Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) has been selected as part of a development team to build 208 affordable apartments in the site of a city-owned municipal parking lot in Flushing, Queens, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced last week. The project, called One Flushing, includes the creation of 208 units of affordable housing, a 15,000-square-foot community facility, and a 34,000-square-foot commercial and retail space for local businesses. The development will be built according to the design principles of feng shui and will feature solar panels and a rooftop farm.
“The One Flushing project is truly a transformative community development partnership for the neighborhood that will not only provide critically-needed senior, low-and-moderate-income housing, but also service amenities and resources for a multi-generational population,” said AAFE Executive Director, Chris Kui.
In addition to praising the development’s residential benefits, Mr. Kui also pointed out AAFE’s dedication to stimulating the local economy: “We will provide economic development opportunities through commercial retail opportunities for local small businesses and entrepreneurs, and, of course, job creation. Furthermore, AAFE’s community development fund, Renaissance Economic Development Corporation, will establish a $2 million dollar low-interest loan fund to lend to the small business in the project,” he said.
