Extell Development has submitted plans for a 22-story residential building at 68 Charlton Street in Hudson Square that would reportedly bring the neighborhood its first affordable housing.
The proposal includes 116 total units, 91 of which would be market-rate co-ops and 25 of which will be affordable rentals. Among the reduced-rate units, the breakdown would be 22 two-bedroom apartments and three studios, ranging from a rental rate of $830 per month to $1,080 per month.
The breakdown would render more than 20 percent of the units affordable, and so Extell has said it will apply for both a 421a state tax break and an inclusionary-housing bonus, offered as part of the new Hudson Square Special district, which would provide an increase in floor area ratio in exchange for the affordable housing.
Community Board 2 is so far on board with the proposal, asking that Extell grant affordable housing tenants free access to the building’s courtyard, basketball court, bicycle parking and children’s playrooms, and reduced-rate access to the pool, gym and steam room. Extell has agreed.
The only remaining bone of contention for the moment is the placement of the affordable units within the building. Extell has said there will be no “poor door,” with all residents accessing their homes via the only lobby, to be located on the Charlton Street side. But the affordable units are to all be stacked between the second and 15th floors on the Vandam Street side of the building — relegating those tenants to one section of the structure, largely separate from the market rate residents.
Though Extell submitted renderings for CB2’s review, it has so far declined to release them for publication. [The Villager] — Julie Strickland