Published in the August 2007 issue of GREENLINE
[St. Nicks Alliance] unveiled plans for the former Greenpoint Hospital Complex located on Maspeth Avenue between Kingsland and Debevoise. The proposal was developed in response to a New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development RFP for the former hospital campus issued in June [2007]. The innovative plan combines preservation of the existing nurses’ residence building and development of adjoining buildings to provide housing for seniors, new geriatric health center, known as the PACE Program, as well as affordable family housing.
The proposal is hailed by community residents as it addresses affordable housing needs and seeks to achieve the goals of the Greenpoint Renaissance Enterprise Corporation (GREC) plan for the complex. It specifically addresses the health and housing needs of seniors. The original GREC plan called for a nursing home and affordable housing to be to be built on the site.
Although not specifically requested by the RFP, the proposal includes development of 90-units of senior housing on the upper floors of the former nurses’ residence and a handsome low-scale, 8-story addition. The proposal was sensitive to concerns of density and a rapidly developing Greenpoint/ Williamsburg community dotted by high-rise development projects.
The plan also calls for the opening of a new 12,000 square foot PACE Senior Health Care Center. This innovative program, known as PACE, would be undertaken in partnership with Catholic Health Care Systems, a highly respected provider of care to the elderly through nursing homes, adult homes, and Calvary Hospital in The Bronx. The new center would create services for day-treatment at the facility and comprehensive care in the home. The program will be open to all qualified elderly residents.
Another major thrust of the development would be to provide 175 units of multi-family housing. This proposal would help provide relief for many Williamsburg families who currently find the overheated rental market impossibly expensive.
The locally-based development team is headed by the [St. Nicks Alliance] in partnership with the North Brooklyn Development Corporation, Briarwood Construction, and Monadnock Construction. Together the development team has built over 10,000 units of affordable housing and has a long history of building and managing affordable housing in Williamsburg, as well as throughout the City of New York.
A key element of the redevelopment plan is the preservation of the historic character of the former nurses’ residence — a magnificent architectural structure from the 1930s. The campus was developed as a municipal hospital during the depression.
*At the time this article was written St. Nicks Alliance was known as: St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation. The original name has been replaced with St. Nicks Alliance in this version. This and date clarification are the only edits.
NOTE: This development now named Kingsland Commons began construction on the Barbara Kleinman Men’s Shelter in December 2022. At completion Kingsland Commons will reveal approximately 557 affordable homes for seniors and families, a senior center, a workforce development center, a cafe, and public open space. This vital development is championed by Mayor Eric Adams and former District 34 NYC Council Member and current Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
The Greenline 