A long-neglected site in Clinton Hill is set to shed its derelict status as Governor Kathy Hochul intensifies efforts to tackle the housing shortage. Yesterday, the governor put out a call for proposals for 1024 Fulton Street, a 12,800-square-foot parcel that has been vacant for nearly three decades, as reported by 6sqft. The state-owned site, tucked between Grand and Classon Avenues, is primed for transformation into a mixed-use development centered on 100 percent affordable housing units.
The proposal dictates creation of a development with rents adjusted for households earning at or below 100% of the area median income – roughly $155,000 for a family of four. This initiative aligns with Governor Hochul's broader strategy to inject life into underused state properties, counting locations like the former prisons at Bayview Correctional Facility in Chelsea and the Lincoln Correctional Facility in Harlem. Adding a community touch, the development is also expected to include a senior or intergenerational community center on the ground floor, as per a statement obtained by Crain's New York.
The site's history dates back to a 1912 Brooklyn Union Gas showroom, experiencing various uses over the years. Acquiring the property from the city in 1997, the Office of Children and Family Services had once envisioned a community center at the locale. Due to structural disturbances, that vision never came to be. The state has earmarked $3.7 million solely for the demolition of the existing structure. The RFP stipulates that preference will be given to developers managed by a nonprofit organization.
Imbued with community feedback from more than 150 local participants through visioning workshops, the project reflects a strong tie to local needs and preferences. “This RFP represents ESD’s commitment to community-driven housing and economic development,” Hope Knight, president, CEO, and commissioner of ESD, told 6sqft. As the plan unfolds via a General Project Plan by ESD, proposals for the site are expected by June 20.
