Atlantic Center nears completion

Real Estate Weekly, March 15, 2000

The Village at Atlantic Center, an affordable housing development in Brooklyn, moves into the final phase of construction, with the last 32 of the 139 three-family townhouses scheduled to be completed in 2001. In addition to being one of the largest single site NYC Housing Partnership projects undertaken by a single developer, The Village is also distinguished by its high-quality design, its attention to detail and its compatibility with the existing fabric and ambiance of the surrounding Fort Greene Historic District. It was designed by Swanke Hayden Connell Architects (SHCA).

According to Carl R. Meinhardt, FAIA, project principal, "The rapid sell-out is a direct result of the development team's focus on design and construction quality. There were actually more qualified buyers than there were homes to be sold."

The development is part of the Atlantic Terminal Urban Renewal Area, located in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, New York. The architect and the developer, the Hudson Companies, Inc., in association with Forest City Ratner Companies, worked with the New York City Housing Partnership, a city-wide non-profit business and civic organization.

Each new home consists of an owner's duplex with two bedrooms, living and dining room, kitchen and bath, plus a large recreation/playroom in a finished cellar. A rear stairway leads to a private rear yard and parking. In addition, each home contains two large two-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors.

Project architect Joseph S. Aliotta, AIA, noted that the challenge for this project was to use subtle changes in scale and affordable building materials to capture the feel of traditional townhouses while meeting the client's budget."

Added Meinhardt, "With most urban housing design, the issue is how to relate to the surrounding neighborhood. With this project, the development team was actually creating a new neighborhood. Our solution focused on how to relate this new neighborhood to the surrounding historic district, utilizing modest three-family homes with private yards and off-street parking."