T
he Brooklyn City Council has approved a contentious rezoning project to transform a commercial laundry facility in Windsor Terrace into 250 apartments. The development, spearheaded by Apex Development and Council member Shahana Hanif, will include 40% affordable housing units for households earning 60% of the area median income. This is one of the highest proportions of affordability achieved through private rezoning without public subsidies in NYC history.

    The project has been a subject of heated debate between supporters and opponents, with some residents expressing concerns about its size and cost. However, Hanif emphasized that the development addresses the city's housing crisis and provides an opportunity to ease these challenges. The approved version of the project is shorter and wider than initially proposed, featuring two 10-story buildings at Prospect Avenue.

    To move forward, the developer must secure a construction loan for the project, which includes amenities such as a child care center and community space for survivors of domestic violence. This rezoning marks one of the first approvals following the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity text amendment, allowing more flexibility in building design without reducing unit numbers.