Politics & Government
Affordable Basement Program Coming To East New York
City Council approved a pilot program Thursday to turn illegal basement dwellings into affordable apartments.
EAST NEW YORK, BROOKLYN -- A new pilot program will transform illegal basements into affordable apartments in East New York after City Council voted to approve the new initiative Wednesday, city records show.
The city will help landlords in Brooklyn's Community Board 4 upgrade a batch of illegal basement apartments into affordable housing units after City Councilman Brad Lander's bill passed a vote in City Hall.
"Thrilled @nyccouncil just passed my bill establishing a pilot program to convert basements into safe & legal rental apartments," Lander wrote on Twitter.
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The Department of Housing Preservation will provide local homeowners with $12 million in low-interest loans and grants to improve basements in a process that will be overseen by HPD, the Department of Buildings and the Department of City Planning, city records show.
The Basement Apartments Safe for Everyone (BASE) coalition has been advocating for the program for at least a decade, Curbed reported Wednesday.
Find out what's happening in Brownsville-East New Yorkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Photo courtesy of City Councilman Brad Lander/Twitter
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