Prospect Plaza Houses

The Prospect Plaza Houses is a 4.53-acre (18,300 m2) complex owned by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) in the Ocean Hill section of Brooklyn and is bordered by St. Marks and Sterling Place, Howard and Saratoga Avenues.[1][2] It was the first NYCHA development to be completely demolished.[3]

Prospect Plaza Houses
NYCHA property
Location within New York City
Coordinates: 40.672720°N 73.917830°W / 40.672720; -73.917830
Country United States
State New York
CityNew York City
BoroughBrooklyn
ZIP codes
11233
Area code(s)718, 347, 929, and 917

Former development

Prospect Plaza Houses had four buildings, 12 and 15 stories tall with 368 apartments and approximately 1,171 residents. It was completed on June 30, 1974.[1][2]

Demolition

In 1999, NYCHA applied for a $21.4 million HOPE VI grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to rebuild the complex after noting its deterioration. The proposed plan contained approximately 670 units, 323 of which are public housing rental units, 273 are non-public housing rental units and 37 are two-family homeowner units. The total project was anticipated to cost over $255 million.[4]

Developer Michaels Development Company was hired in 2003[5] and the first building was torn down in 2005 and the New York City Housing Authority plans to demolish the other buildings and build new apartments as this would be cheaper than renovating the existing units.[6] In 2007, NYCHA terminated its agreement with Michaels. Michaels sued the agency for $5.6 million for breach of contract.[7]

Against federal guidelines, New York City amended its 2010 annual plan with HUD, after the public hearing. Instead of adding one building, it would tear down the entire development and replace it with 80 public housing rental units and add affordable housing.[5]

In the summer of 2014, the other three buildings were torn down and new buildings are currently being built. Construction has started on the buildings on Prospect Place. The buildings are set to be completed in the summer/fall of 2016.[8]

Residents reactions

Over 1,000 residents were displaced and were scattered around the city with the last of the tenants leaving in 2003, costing taxpayers roughly $6 million.[5][9][7] According to reports the deal offered residents of Prospect Plaza Houses temporary townhouse styled housing while their apartments were renovated. Many of these residents were instead given vouchers to alternative Section 8 housing. Many former residents have expressed dissatisfaction with what they claim was an unfair deal to remove them in order for the city to turn the buildings into condominiums and bring in more money.[2]

New development

Construction of the new development finished in 2017 with 284 apartments. 80 units are being managed by NYCHA, while the rest for households making no more than 60% of the Area Median Income.[10][11] The development was designed by Dattner Architects.[11]

Notable residents

See also

References
  1. "Prospect Plaza - Article about Building Stats". Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  2. "TOWER WRECKERS - Some Prospect Plaza residents unhappy with relocation". Archived from the original on October 31, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  3. "City to demolish Prospect Plaza Houses". brooklyn.news12.com. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  4. "A New Beginning - Prospect Plaza". Department of Housing and Urban Development. March 7, 2011.
  5. Smith, LINDA KINSTLER, Greg B. "NYCHA's $148M ghost town". nydailynews.com. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  6. Fernandez, Manny (February 5, 2010). "New York City Plans to Topple Public Housing Towers". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  7. Fernandez, Manny (February 5, 2010). "New York City Housing Authority Plans to Topple Prospect Plaza". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  8. "Affordable Units Up for Grabs Starting at $689 a Month at Ocean Hill's Long-Awaited Prospect Plaza", Brownstoner, April 14, 2016. Accessed January 10, 2018. "Still under construction and designed by Dattner Architects, the mostly low-rise development replaces troubled NYCHA apartment blocks emptied out more than a decade ago.... The now-empty or under-construction blocks in the area were formerly the location of the 15-story Prospect Plaza housing complex. Home to 1,200 people, the complex was emptied out by the New York City Housing Authority in 2000, with promises to rebuild by 2005. Instead, the boarded-up buildings were left standing for well over a decade and finally leveled in 2014."
  9. "The American Dream: One Block Can Make All The Difference". NPR.org. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  10. "366 below-market rate apartments are now available across Brooklyn and the Bronx, starting at $558 a month". Brick Underground. September 5, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  11. Baird-Remba, Rebecca (June 29, 2015). "Prospect Plaza Affordable Housing Rises in Ocean Hill". New York YIMBY. Retrieved October 7, 2019.

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