Brooklyn Welcomes New Affordable Housing for Seniors
In a significant boost to affordable housing for seniors, Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the inauguration of the Bethany Senior Terraces, a $48 million development in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush. This four-story project is designed for residents aged 55 and older, offering 57 affordable apartments, including 18 units equipped with supportive services. The project is a testament to Governor Hochul’s commitment to her $25 billion Housing Plan aimed at creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York State.
“Every New Yorker deserves a safe and affordable place to age with independence and stability,” said Governor Hochul. “Bethany Senior Terraces transforms a long-vacant site in Brooklyn into modern, energy-efficient homes for older adults while delivering supportive services that will help vulnerable seniors thrive. Developments like this are essential to addressing our housing shortage and building healthier neighborhoods across New York.”
The project, spearheaded by RiseBoro Community Partnership Inc., replaces two unused buildings that were once the Bethany Methodist Home for the Aged. The new development comprises 45 studio apartments, 12 one-bedroom units, and a superintendent’s apartment. All units are targeted at households earning up to 50% of the Area Median Income.
Of the 57 apartments, 18 are reserved for individuals eligible for on-site supportive services, including those facing homelessness. These services, provided by RiseBoro Community Partnership Inc., encompass case management, health coordination, and various social and recreational programs to help seniors maintain housing stability and independence. The New York State Department of Health supports these apartments through an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award.
Designed to be fully accessible, the building includes five units for residents with mobility impairments and two for those with sensory disabilities. The entirely electric building adheres to the 2020 Enterprise Green Communities Plus and Passive House standards. It features sustainable elements like Energy Recovery Ventilation systems, LED lighting, Energy Star appliances, and a rooftop infrastructure ready for a future solar array.
Residents will benefit from amenities including supportive services offices, storage spaces, and community rooms. The building boasts outdoor terraces leading to a large garden and interior social spaces on each floor. A hydroponic greenhouse, which grows plants using water instead of soil, is complemented by a community kitchen designed for gardening and cooking demonstrations.
Financing for the development included federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, generating approximately $14.4 million in equity and a $7.8 million subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) contributed $716,000, while the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $9.3 million in financing.
Voices on the Development
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas highlighted the significance of the project: “Bethany Senior Terraces delivers exactly the kind of housing New York needs more of — apartments that are affordable, supportive, sustainable, and allow residents to be connected to the communities of their choice. By transforming a blighted property into 57 high-quality apartments, this development is advancing Governor Hochul’s housing and climate goals while helping to create a healthier, more affordable future in Brooklyn for seniors.”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald emphasized the importance of such housing: “For older adults, a healthy and accessible home is essential to aging with dignity. Bethany Senior Terraces will give residents the opportunity to live independently while staying connected to the services and support they need to thrive. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to expanding affordable housing across New York State.”
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris remarked on the building’s design: “Bethany Senior Terraces serves as an example of how to build affordable housing that prioritizes the latest clean technology alongside accessibility and mobility accommodations. The energy efficient upgrades incorporated in this project will help lower energy usage for aging New Yorkers and allow them to live in cleaner, more modern living spaces.”
New York State Office for the Aging Acting Director Greg Olsen commented on the broader impact: “The Bethany Senior Terraces development project highlights Governor Hochul’s commitment to expand age-friendly affordable housing across the state. The on-site supportive services and social and recreational programming will help ensure the older adults have access and opportunity to be independent, healthy, and active in their community. Older New Yorkers have a profound impact in every community, so I applaud Governor Hochul for her continuous efforts to keep older New Yorkers in communities of their choice.”
RiseBoro Community Partnership CEO Kieran Harrington expressed pride in the project: “From acquiring this long-vacant site to delivering 57 deeply affordable, all-electric homes, RiseBoro is proud to have built Bethany Senior Terraces as a place where older New Yorkers can age with dignity, stability, and community. We are thrilled to continue developing more affordable and sustainable residences that support our community’s needs and promote environmental resilience.”
Representative Yvette D. Clarke praised the initiative: “The opening of Bethany Senior Terraces isn’t just an investment in affordable housing, but an investment in dignity, stability, and opportunity for our seniors here in Central Brooklyn. At a time when far too many older New Yorkers are struggling with housing insecurity, this development will provide supportive and sustainable homes where residents can age with grace and independence. I commend Governor Hochul, RiseBoro Community Partnership, Inc., and all our partners for transforming a long-vacant site into a model for compassionate, climate-conscious housing providing on-site supportive services. Together, we are proving that every New Yorker deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.”
Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to solve the housing crisis in New York are aimed at making the state more affordable and livable. Since FY23, she has been actively working to increase housing supply through a comprehensive $25 billion Housing Plan. This plan includes the implementation of significant housing deals and new protections for tenants and homeowners. Under her guidance, HCR has initiated new programs to foster the development of affordable and mixed-income housing for rent and ownership. The Pro-Housing Community Program is one such initiative, providing certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding, with over 410 communities, including New York City, certified as Pro-Housing.
In her 2026 State of the State address, Governor Hochul introduced the “Let Them Build” agenda, a set of reforms to expedite housing and infrastructure projects while reducing costs. This initiative aims to streamline New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and accelerate projects with minimal environmental impact, overcoming bureaucratic delays.
The FY27 Executive Budget completes the Governor’s five-year Housing Plan, aiming to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations. It also targets the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. To date, more than 81,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved. The Executive Budget also dedicates $250 million in capital funding to expedite the construction of new affordable homes.
Original Story at hcr.ny.gov