New York Attorney General Letitia James has helped preserve 57 affordable housing units across four buildings in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, ensuring residents can remain in their homes while the properties undergo renovations.
The agreement brings together the Office of the Attorney General, IMPACCT Brooklyn, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). IMPACCT Brooklyn, a nonprofit affordable housing developer and community development corporation, will take ownership and management of the buildings and oversee their rehabilitation.
The properties, previously owned by the nonprofit Food First HDFC, Inc., include 201 Pulaski Street, a nine-unit building; 709 Lafayette Avenue, with 24 units; 327 Franklin Avenue, with 16 units; and 335 Franklin Avenue, an eight-unit building. All 57 apartments will remain affordable for at least 30 years.
The Office of the Attorney General intervened after learning in April 2024 that Food First planned to auction the buildings to a commercial purchaser without obtaining the required approvals from state and city housing agencies. Officials determined that the proposed buyer lacked experience managing affordable housing, prompting the agencies to challenge the sale.
Food First subsequently filed for bankruptcy, and a court-appointed trustee sought to liquidate its portfolio, including the four Brooklyn properties. Attorney General James intervened in the proceedings to advocate for a nonprofit purchaser that would protect the apartments’ affordability.
Working with representatives from The Legal Aid Society and Legal Services NYC, the attorney general’s office helped secure IMPACCT Brooklyn as the new owner.
“All New Yorkers deserve access to safe and affordable housing,” James said, emphasizing that the agreement would allow tenants to remain in their homes.
HCR is providing a $3 million loan to finance IMPACCT’s acquisition of the properties. The funding requires the apartments to be reserved for low- and moderate-income residents. HPD will support financing for the complete rehabilitation of all four buildings, with the goal of providing tenants with safer living conditions.
IMPACCT Executive Director Jamal Clayton Robinson said the agreement reinforces the organization’s longstanding commitment to preserving affordable housing and keeping residents connected to their communities.
The announcement also marks a significant development for tenants who have struggled with deteriorating conditions and sought repairs. Rachel Nager, a housing attorney with Legal Services NYC, called the acquisition a victory for residents, noting that tenants had spent years fighting for basic repairs and better living conditions.
The agreement underscores the importance of partnerships among government agencies, nonprofit developers and tenant advocates in protecting affordable housing. For Bedford-Stuyvesant residents, the outcome offers greater housing stability and the promise of long-awaited improvements to their homes.