The latest affordable-housing lottery in Crown Heights is officially live, and it is for Botanic Heights, a new seven-story building rising at 960 Franklin Avenue. Out of 290 total apartments, 91 are set aside as income-restricted units at 130 percent of the area median income, with listed qualifying household incomes ranging from roughly $106,766 to $238,160. Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by July 2, 2026, and the units are advertised with perks like assigned parking, a gym and shared social spaces.
Lottery details and who qualifies
According to NYC Housing Connect, the listing includes 91 income-restricted apartments in the 130% AMI band, with a full breakdown of income bands and unit counts by bedroom type. The portal also spells out household-size limits, required documentation and confirms the July 2, 2026 application deadline. Prospective tenants are directed to review the detailed eligibility chart on the listing to see the exact income limits for their household size.
Units, rents and building amenities
Reporting by YIMBY and public listings lays out the 130% AMI rent tiers, with one-bedrooms landing in the high $2,000s and multiple two-bedroom options topping out near $3,950. Public materials identify YS Developers LLC as the developer, with Hamish Whitefield listed as the designer. Inside the apartments, listings tout in-unit washers and dryers, dishwashers and smart HVAC controls, while shared amenities are set to include a fitness center, party room, children’s playroom and assigned garage parking.
Site history and the neighborhood fight
The development sits on a remediated site that once housed a spice factory, and the current seven-story plan is the scaled-down result of years of debate over much taller proposals for 960 Franklin. As reported by The Real Deal, critics argued earlier high-rise schemes would cast damaging shadows on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and nearby parks, a flashpoint that helped reshape planning for the project.
How to apply
Anyone looking to enter the lottery must apply through NYC Housing Connect and follow the instructions to confirm household size and income. Applications must be filed online or postmarked by July 2, 2026 in order to be considered. The listing also details any preference categories that may apply, along with the specific supporting documents applicants will need to submit.
What this means locally
Advocates and planning groups have long warned that income bands pegged at higher AMI levels can leave many Crown Heights residents shut out of new buildings in their own neighborhood. The Municipal Art Society and other critics raised both affordability and shadow-related concerns during earlier rounds of review for this site, and that broader context continues to hover over the Botanic Heights lottery as it moves ahead.
