Bushwick Alliance breaks ground on affordable housing project

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- The Bushwick Alliance, a collaboration between RiseBoro Community Partnership and St. Nick's Alliance, held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning for their all-electric, sustainable affordable housing development on Stockholm Street in Bushwick.

The project promises to be a model for future NYC initiatives, prioritizing low-carbon living and energy efficiency.

Scott Short, CEO of RiseBoro Community Partnership, highlighted the project's significance: "Formerly a city-owned site, we're transforming it into 20 units of low-income, affordable housing that adheres to Passive House standards. This will be one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the entire city."

Short spoke about the focus on energy savings, a key aspect of the project emphasizing the advantages for both affordability and sustainability. "It's a design standard that utilizes insulation, air sealing, and electric heat pump technologies. These elements create buildings that use up to 80% less source energy than a typical building. It's a win-win – controlling costs for affordable housing on the operational side, while also helping our city reach its climate goals," he said.

Laura James, Vice Chair of the St. Nick's Alliance Board of Directors, says the project is significant for the Bushwick community, which has seen a surge in gentrification and development in recent years. "Being able to develop a property like this one is so integral to making sure we have socioeconomic diversity in these areas."

With the groundbreaking complete, the Bushwick Alliance faces the next step: ensuring the project's success as they move forward paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable future for Bushwick residents. The project is expected to be complete in December 2025, and the lottery will likely open through NYC's Housing Connect system at https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/