Habitat for Humanity Shifts Focus to Outer Boroughs

A renowned not-for-profit organization is expanding its output into New York City’s outer boroughs.

Habitat for Humanity is constructing a total of 179 co-op units across Brooklyn and the Bronx, the Commercial Observer reported. The separate developments represent the largest influx for the New York chapter’s pipeline.

In Brooklyn, Habitat is building Constellation, a community that spans eight sites in East New York, Ocean Hill, Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Rugby Remsen Village, Brooklyn Paper reported. Originally envisioned for 77 units, the organization has since grown the project out to 108 units. Similarly, Claremont House in the Bronx jumped from a 40-unit plan to 71 units in all. The Community Land Trust owns the land, leased to Habitat on 99-year deals.

To build the projects, Habitat is tapping city and state programs, including the Open Door Program and the New Infill Housing Opportunity Program. The projects were made possible due to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, ushered in during the Eric Adams administration.

The recipients of units will benefit from tax abatements from the Housing Development Fund Corporation. NYC Housing Connect will process the sales of the units under its recently expanded capabilities.

Zohran Mamdani’s administration announced $22 billion in investments for affordable housing as part of the coming year’s fiscal budget.

Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County chief executive officer Sabrina Lippman said the units are targeted for the “missing middle” that struggle to find home ownership opportunities.

Mamdani added in a statement that “by supporting affordable homeownership opportunities like Constellation, we are creating pathways to stability, wealth and belonging for working people who should have not be priced out of that dream.”

Habitat will be hoping for less drama than it has dealt with over one contested site in Manhattan.

Before Adams left office, his administration demanded Pennrose, Riseboro and Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester drop their legal fight over the Elizabeth Street Garden project, known as Haven Green. In exchange, the city would designate the team as the developers of another city-owned site at 22 Suffolk Street.

The developers of the affordable housing project rejected the Adams administration’s last-minute offer to drop their lawsuit, stating the offer was “not sufficient” for them to abandon their litigation.

— Holden Walter-Warner