165 affordable apartments available at new Brownsville housing complex, from $454/month

Applications are now being accepted for 165 affordable apartments at a new housing complex in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Located at 589 Christopher Avenue, the building is the second and final phase of Ebenezer Plaza, a sprawling mixed-use development bringing much-needed affordable housing to the community. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $454/month for studios to $2,949/month for three bedrooms.

Developed by Ebenezer Urban Ministries Center and designed by Perkins Eastman Architects, the 11-story building features a gym, shared laundry room, community room, outdoor space, and bike storage. The ground floor contains 1,400 square feet of retail space.

Ebenezer Plaza consists of four affordable housing buildings across two sites, including space for community facilities, new green space to connect the buildings to the adjacent Brownsville Rec Center, and new space for the Church of God of East Flatbush, which became the Ebenezer Urban Ministries Center.

The center purchased the lots for $8.18 million in 2011 and sold them to a non-profit housing development fund company for $12.6 million in 2016, as reported by Brownstoner.

The church partnered with Brisa Builders Corporation and Procida Companies in the housing development fund company, which was brought together in 2016 under a program initiated by then Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to help churches “cash in” on real estate holdings. Later that year, the group applied for a rezoning for the site which was approved in 2017.

Before they were purchased, the lots were mostly occupied by brick garages and used by auto repair businesses and car dealerships.

In January 2020, two buildings located at 672 Powell Street and 96 New Lots Avenue, launched a housing lottery for 176 affordable units as part of the first phase of the project.

Nearby public transit options include the L, 3, and 4 subway lines and the B8, B15, and B35 buses.

Qualifying New Yorkers can apply for the apartments until October 3, 2024. Complete details on how to apply are available here. Preference for 20 percent of the units will be given to residents of Brooklyn Community District 16.

Questions regarding this offer must be referred to NYC’s Housing Connect department by dialing 311.

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