Affordable Housing breaks ground at 570 Eldert Lane

The ground breaking ceremony took place at 570 Eldert Lane (formerly known as 581 Grant Avenue) last week. The project is a new 196,000-square-foot affordable housing development in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. Designed for a joint venture of Slate Property Group, Thorobird Companies LLC, and Bangladeshi American Community Development & Youth Services (BACDYS), the project will transform a long-underutilized parking lot adjacent to the Grant Avenue subway station into 213 apartments and 10,000 square feet of community space.

The building was initially conceived as a modular project; however, due to a range of factors, the design was adapted to traditional concrete construction. Because of the network of subway tunnels located just a few feet below grade, the foundation is designed to isolate the structure from train vibration through a system of acoustical pads. To reduce the load imposed on the tunnels, the structural shell is formed of post-tensioned concrete. To retain elements of the original modular approach, the facade is unitized and is being fabricated in Europe.

Of the 213 units, 66 apartments will be set aside for formerly homeless residents, with the remaining homes serving low-income families earning between 40 and 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI). The development includes studio, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments. In addition to housing, the project is planned as a neighborhood resource. The ground-floor community space will be anchored by BACDYS for local programming and will also include an indoor fitness room, a landscaped rooftop, and a rear courtyard.

Situated adjacent to the Grant Avenue subway station, the building is conceived as five interconnected masses, joined by angled cores that open to double-height lounge spaces. These shared areas interrupt the corridors and draw natural light into the interior. Each roof has a defined function: two accommodate mechanical and photovoltaic systems, while the remaining three cascade from levels eight to six and are designed as linked, occupiable outdoor spaces for residents.

Subway commuters will be able to walk through the ground-level landscape, passing under the building and past two integrated community facility spaces. A raised residential ground floor establishes a clear delineation between public and private space, with an additional rear garden reserved for residents.

The project has been developed with resident experience as a central consideration, with the intent of supporting living standards through careful attention to planning, light, and shared spaces.