The developer picked to re-develop the City-owned Bedford-Union Armory in Crown Heights today announced a longtime community-based non-profit has joined the development team to assist in providing much-needed recreational facilities, affordable office space and affordable housing off-site in the neighborhood.
BFC Partners which the city chose through a RFP (Request for Proposals) to develop the armory will partner with the Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights (LDCCH), founded in 1987 by the Late Rev. Clarence Norman Sr. of the First Baptist Church Of Crown Heights and the father of former Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr..
The announcement comes less than a week before the March 7 public scoping meeting on the the project, which is required as part of the City’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).
It also comes as Assemblywoman Diana Richardson (D-Crown Heights, Lefferts Gardens) continues to lead the fight, with alliances from Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, Sheepshead Bay, Brownsville), State Sen. Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Walter Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights) to make the entire Armory project 100 percent affordable housing.
The current plan calls for the Armory redevelopment to include 330 rental units of housing, 50% of which will be affordable to low- and middle-income residents; and 56 condominium units, 20% of which will be affordable to middle-income.
As part of its role on the development team, LDCCH and BFC will create a new Affordable Housing Fund that will support the creation of more affordable housing, tenant advocacy and housing education throughout Crown Heights, but does not include any more on-site affordable housing.
LDCCH will also play an important role in identifying local and (Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) contractors for potential partnerships and aiding local hiring efforts throughout the construction process.
“Revitalizing the Bedford-Union Armory is a huge step forward for the Crown Heights community and we are proud to be a part of it,” said LDCCH Executive Director Caple Spence. “Our new Affordable Housing Fund will play an important role in supporting more affordable housing for Crown Heights families. We also look forward to helping create new opportunities for MWBEs and local hiring throughout the construction process.”
“We are thrilled to bring on LDCCH as a community-based development partner because of its outstanding record of supporting Crown Heights residents and the local economy,” said Don Capoccia, principal of BFC Partners. “LDCCH will play a key role in ensuring that the new Armory is a win for all Crown Heights families and that a local organization is helping lead the way in providing more affordable housing for the community.”
The LDCCH is now one of two non-profits on the overall Bedford-Union Armory project team, as the Brooklyn-based non-profit CAMBA will oversee all programming and operations at the Armory’s recreational facility. LDCCH will actively participate in the pre-development and development process, including public approval, design, financing and leasing/sales.
The new Affordable Housing Fund operated by LDCCH and BFC will be seeded by the Armory project and further supported with matching funds from BFC, providing a key source of community-based financing for local affordable housing initiatives.
The redevelopment of the Armory will also include a new 67,000-square-foot recreational space featuring basketball courts, multi-sport courts and a competitive-length swimming pool to serve local youth sports leagues, senior programs and others. New commercial office space will be offered at discounted rates for local small businesses and non-profits in need of affordable rents.
Richardson was unavailable for comment at post time.
The public scoping meeting is slated for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 7 at Ebbets Field M.S 352, 46 Mckeever Place in Crown Heights.
