07/09/2019

Early Investment Boost from CSH Helps Brooklyn's CAMBA Gardens Phase II Open It's Doors

CAMBA Housing Ventures and CAMBA have opened CAMBA Gardens Phase II, an affordable housing community in Brooklyn’s Wingate section. This project is the continuation of CAMBA Gardens Phase I, which was completed in October 2013.

Located on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals’ Kings County Campus, the $100 million CAMBA Gardens Phase II comprises 293 studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans. Of the total units, 110 are designated for families and individuals making less than 60 percent of the area median income, while 182 are reserved for those who were formerly homeless. Interior apartment features include full kitchens and baths, ceiling fans, wood flooring, durable finishes, air conditioning and solid-surface countertops and windowsills. Residents have access to amenities such as recreational green space, computer room, community gardens, laundry facilities and community rooms for civic groups, Community Board and KCHC hospital meetings.

The community was designed and built to achieve NYSERDA, LEED Gold and Enterprise Green Communities standards. Sustainable features onsite include:

  • Energy Star appliances and lighting
  • healthy indoor air quality
  • high-efficiency building systems
  • low/non-toxic finishes
  • bike parking
  • high-efficiency flow showers, sinks and toilets for water conservation
  • day-lit common areas
  • energy-efficient windows

The location provides residents with access to healthcare and mental health counseling, while also reducing the city’s costs for shelter, emergency rooms and jails, saving $10,111 per resident per year. CAMBA Gardens Phase II will also offer onsite staff working with residents to develop service plans based on each of their individual needs, such as independent living skills training, a job readiness program, group social events, financial literacy, substance abuse programming and organized cultural and sporting events.

“For more than 40 years, we have worked tirelessly to assist New Yorkers struggling to overcome daily hurdles like housing instability, health issues, insufficient job skills and domestic violence. Time and again we saw how intertwined affordable housing, access to supportive services and quality healthcare were to enable healthy, stable lives,” said Joanne Oplustil, president & CEO of CAMBA and CAMBA Housing Ventures.

Funding for CAMBA Gardens Phase II was provided by several different public and private companies. The New York State Housing Finance Authority provided $49.3 million in tax exempt bonds and $4.1 million in Medicaid Redesign Team funds. HPD provided $20.5 million through the Supportive Housing Loan Program. The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York/AHP provided $1.45 million through member bank HSBC.

TD Bank provided credit enhancement and Enterprise Community Investment syndicated $40.3 million in 4 percent as-of-right Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, with Bank of America serving as the tax credit investor. The New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Program provided $6 million. The Brooklyn Borough President and the New York City Council through Council member Mathieu Eugene each provided $1 million in capital allocations. NYSERDA provided $300,000.

Additionally, the community received pre-development financing from the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and Enterprise Community Loan Fund. The on-site social services are funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health, New York City Human Resources Administration HIV/AIDS Services Administration and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

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