Are These $2,163 a Month Affordable Units in Bed Stuy Really Affordable?

An affordable housing lottery has opened up for 11 unusually pricey units in a six-story building at 867 Dekalb Avenue in Bed Stuy, a few blocks from the busy Myrtle-Broadway intersection.

While technically “affordable” in the sense that they are income restricted and rent stabilized, with rents set at 30 percent of income, they are nonetheless more expensive than many equivalent market rate units in the same neighborhood. In fact, some of the units are more expensive than the market-rate units in the same building.

Of the 11 affordable apartments, there are five one-bedroom units and six two-bedroom units, starting at $2,163 and topping out at $2,716 per month.

Different units are set at different area median income ranges: Two units are set at 115 percent, five at 125 percent and the final four at 130 percent. Eligible incomes range between $74,160 for households of one person and $124,020 for households of four.

Market-rate rentals in the 35-unit building launched in March 2017, with one-bedrooms ranging from $2,100 to $2,500, two-bedrooms ranging from $2,290 to $2,865, and three-bedroom units asking $2,740 to $3,300.

The market-rate rentals have private balconies, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances in the kitchen and boxy, modern looking bathrooms with shower tubs, according to the listings.

Tenants have roof access, and the building has private parking, a gym and bike storage. Market-rate rental units have central heat and air conditioning, and a dishwasher.

Charles Mallea is the architect on record. The firm is also modernizing 163 Court Street, the Cobble Hill Greek Revival shop front where Book Court used to be. Typically the firm’s designs are traditional masonry buildings but it is perhaps best known for a rendering for Bed Stuy’s 410 Tompkins Avenue, dubbed the “Bulgarian Neo-Goth Super-Villain Crack Lair” by Brownstoner commenters. After an outcry, it was jettisoned for a more traditional building.

The firm has also worked on a number of residential buildings with affordable apartments at 810 Flushing Avenue in Bushwick and 183 Tompkins Avenue in Bed Stuy.

The developer is Simon Kaufman, who purchased the formerly empty lot for $3 million in 2014.

Applications must be submitted by February 21. Apply through NYC Housing Connect. To learn more about how to apply for affordable housing, read Brownstoner’s guide.

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