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Flushing Affordable Housing Complex Opens; 84,000 Applications for 231 Units

Rendering (Source: AAFE)

Feb. 22, 2019 By Christian Murray

Tenants have started moving into a 231-unit affordable apartment building that recently opened in downtown Flushing.

The 10-story building, dubbed One Flushing and located at 133-45 41^st Ave., is being rented to low-income seniors and families. Sixty-six units have been reserved for tenants 62 years and older, with the remaining units going to low-income individuals and families without age restriction.

A unit in the 100 percent affordable building has been highly sought. More than 84,000 applications were submitted to Department of Housing Preservation and Development for just 231 apartments.

Most of the seniors who “won” the housing lottery have been contacted, although prospective tenants in the non-age restricted units are still being notified, according to Ed Litvak, a spokesperson for the developer.

Elected officials held a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the building Thursday, as the first 20 residents began moving in. The seniors will be the first to move in, followed by non-age-restricted tenants, Litvak said.

“One Flushing is a prime example of a development that is responsive to the community needs,” Council Member Peter Koo said at the ribbon cutting. “A staggering 84,000 applications were received for only 231 units, clearly demonstrating just how critical it is for our community.”

The building, once a municipal parking lot, is located by the Flushing Main-Street LIRR station.

The ground floor features around 22,000 square feet of retail space. An urgent care facility has announced it will be moving in, with the remainder of the space still to be rented, Litvak said.

The non-profit group Asian Americans for Equality, which provides immigrant services, will occupy 5,000 square feet on the second floor.

The building features amenities such as a gym, a children’s playroom, landscaped rooftop terraces and a rooftop farm. It also includes 156 public parking spaces located in an underground garage.

The building was developed by Monadnock Development in conjunction with two non-profits—namely Asian Americans for Equality and HANAC. The city awarded the contract to the developers in 2015 to construct the building, which is on city-owned land.

“We are thrilled to welcome the first residents to this transformational project in a neighborhood that AAFE has served for so many years,” said Thomas Yu and Jennifer Sun, AAFE co-executive directors. “One Flushing not only addresses a critical need for affordable housing in our community, it will enable Asian Americans for Equality to expand services.”