Through its Housing Department, Los Sures acquires and develops low-income housing for the community of North Brooklyn. To date, it has rehabilitated and constructed 2,950 units in over 300 buildings and has developed 43 co-ops, with 1,002 units. In addition, the organization has purchased and rehabilitated seven small vacant buildings, which were sold to local residents.
The department continually seeks opportunities to create housing for low and moderate-income families. Financing for these projects are secured from the City, State, Federal Government, banks, and financial intermediaries.
In 2014, Los Sures completed the rehabilitation of a 56-unit HUD 202 senior building located at 201 Roebling Street in Brooklyn. The project was financed with New York State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits through a partnership with The Richman Group. The rehabilitation included all new kitchens, bathroom upgrades, new roofing, new windows, a new elevator, and an improved HVAC systems. Most noticeable is the newly redesigned lobby area, community recreation room, and outdoor garden space, which were improved utilizing Active Design elements developed in collaboration with the New York City Department of Health. Los Sures also worked with LISC’s Two Shades of Green initiative to implement green cleaning measures in the building to improve the quality of life of tenants so that they would no longer be exposed to potentially harmful chemicals.
In late 2014, Los Sures closed on construction financing for six of its Special Initiatives Program (SIP) buildings and 383 Hewes Street, which already began undergoing rehabilitations. The buildings in these two projects, consisting of 144 units, will receive new roofs, parapets, and boilers as well as other necessary capital work, including the restoration of their masonry facades. A new scope will be implemented in conjunction with Community Preservation Corporation’s energy efficiency initiative which will add further items to make the buildings greener.
The South Side has a conspicuous deficiency of park space, which has had detrimental effects on the health and well-being of area residents. In an effort to curb this problem, Los Sures continued its role as the lead agency working with former Council Member Diana Reyna on BQGreen , a unique project covering a section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, providing much needed open park space to neighborhood residents.