Fort Greene faces rising tensions over 72-story affordable housing tower
By 2032, the building is expected to become Brooklyn’s second tallest, bringing 1,263 new housing units to the borough.
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A 72-story affordable housing tower could soon reshape the skyline of Fort Greene, but not everyone is on board. While the project promises progress, some residents say the cost may be too high.
By 2032, the building is expected to become Brooklyn’s second tallest, bringing 1,263 new housing units to the borough. Of those, between 325 and 379 will be rent-stabilized units designated as affordable housing. That’s welcome news for longtime resident Robert Anderson.
“It would be nice to know that people who work those low-paying jobs will have somewhere nice to go, not somewhere where they’re off the streets,” Anderson said.
The proposal, first introduced by Mayor Eric Adams in May 2025 as part of the “City of Yes” initiative, also includes plans for a private gym, resident lounge, and new job opportunities for residents, according to an environmental site assessment.
“It’s a great thing to have new construction, because that means there’s new opportunities for people to live,” said Dr. Sharon McLennon-Wier, executive director at the Center for Independence of the Disabled.
But critics argue that the term “affordable” doesn’t go far enough. The income requirement for the rent-stabilized units is set at 80% or less of the area median income. That starts at roughly $90,000 for a single-person household, based on city data, an amount that many say excludes the very people the project is supposed to serve.
“[We want] affordable housing! Actual affordable housing,” demanded resident Martha Wilson.
The building’s potential impact on surrounding green spaces, including nearby Fort Greene Park, has also raised alarms. Concerns about increased shade, tree growth and reduced public space have led to an online petition opposing the project, already nearing 1,500 signatures and climbing.
“Taking away green space, the ability for trees to grow due to shade - that is a problem for everyone,” said McLennon-Wier.
