Turn Vacant NYC Lots Into Affordable Homes, Officials Say

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, BROOKLYN — A now-vacant lot in Bed-Stuy could sprout 12 new, affordable housing units with deeds in the hands of whoever lives there. And similar abandoned city-owned spots across Brooklyn and the city can do the same.

It's only a matter of a $44 million drop in a bucket billions of dollars deep.

So said a group of lawmakers and advocates who gathered on frigid Friday afternoon at the corner of Howard Avenue and Madison Street, right outside a vacant lot where Habitat For Humanity plans to build an affordable housing co-op.

They called for increased state funding — $18 million more for a $44 million total — for per-unit new home ownership construction.

State Sen. Zellnor Myrie said the state can provide an affordable path to home ownership.

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