New Housing Supports Brooklyn Neighborhood Revitalization

Addressing the housing crisis in New York City requires a blend of creativity and experience. Both these qualities were evident in the development of Simba Simbi Seniors, a 157-unit affordable housing community in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood. Devoted exclusively to seniors, the building recently welcomed its first residents.

There is an immense need for affordable housing for low-income seniors in New York City. Simba Simbi Seniors reserves apartments for seniors 62 and older who make 50% or less of area median income (AMI), with 30% of the apartments set aside for seniors 55 and older who have been formerly unhoused. Capital One made a low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) equity investment to help finance Simba Simbi Seniors’ construction. 

From the start, co-developers Dunn Development Corp. and Fish Plate Development LLC planned the property around an integrative supportive housing model that serves people with different housing needs and empowers them to become part of their neighborhood. 

“We designed this community to be centered around both resident and community needs,” says Maggie Poxon, Principal at Fish Plate Development. “It’s not just about building the housing – it’s about providing a holistic resident experience, creating a new sense of place, and ensuring access to goods and services within the broader community.”

For example, all units have been planned with accessibility in mind, making it easier for residents to age in place. The property also offers significant supportive services, including case management provided by a leading New York City social service provider. And the property’s extensive amenity space – including a community room, hobby room, gym and computer room/library – is meant to foster a sense of community within the property. In these spaces, residents will be able to participate in activities such as movie nights, cooking classes, and arts and crafts. Outside is a patio and tenant gardening area with planting workshops scheduled for the warmer months.

Brownsville also benefits from Simba Simbi’s presence in the neighborhood. 

“There was a strong desire to replace the vacant parking lot along the elevated train line with housing,” says Mark Zimet, Principal at Fish Plate Development. “We tried to do more than fill a vacant space. We saw this as an untapped resource for senior housing that could also contribute to the Brownsville neighborhood.”

Given its proximity to the adjacent elevated subway train, Simba Simbi Seniors was designed with high performance windows, which significantly reduce ambient sound from outside and are also energy efficient. Wider sidewalks and exterior building lighting under the train platform provide greater visibility and safety. The building’s exterior also adds brightness and color to the neighborhood.

Further, the building’s ground floor features a large community facility space occupied by a Brownsville-based nonprofit performing arts organization. The group runs dance classes for area youth, and the location provides them with a permanent home and the opportunity to expand their community engagement to include intergenerational programming with building residents.

In urban areas, the high cost of housing can force lower income residents out of the communities in which they grew up, live or work. Because these neighborhoods are already densely populated, it can be challenging to find areas to maximize housing. Capital One has supported developers in their efforts to create and preserve affordable housing on underutilized real estate.

While not a new concept, transforming underutilized space like surface parking lots to affordable housing can help meet community needs for low- to moderate-income households. Once built, these properties can help contribute to the revitalization of neighborhoods by bringing more residents and local investments. 

Learn more about how Capital One is improving communities across the country with solutions that support affordable housing needs and goals.