FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | February 27, 2025
Press Contacts: Musarrat (Mus) Lamia | (646) 353-4549 | mlamia@council.nyc.gov
Council Member Hanif Secured 100 Affordable Units, 40% Affordability for Windsor Terrace through the rezoning, marking one of the highest proportions of affordable housing for a private ULURP application without public subsidies in city history
New York, NY—In a significant step toward addressing New York City’s housing crisis, the City Council has approved the modified zoning application for 441 and 467 Prospect Avenue Rezoning, also known as the Arrow Linen proposal in Windsor Terrace. This approval marks the final vote in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process and represents a major triumph for the community, affordable housing advocates, and local residents.
Ahead of the City Council vote, elected officials, housing advocates, and community members gathered on the steps of City Hall for a rally and press conference to show their strong support for the project.
The updated proposal, refined through extensive community engagement, now features an R7A zoning designation with a legally binding Community Benefits Agreement, reducing the building height from the originally proposed 13 stories to 10 while increasing the share of affordable units from 25% to 40%, exceeding affordability requirements beyond MIH without any public subsidies from the city. Out of the total 250 units, 100 will be affordable.
This rezoning is one of the first to include affordable housing that the City Council has voted on following the City of Yes Zoning for Housing Opportunity and the City For All Housing Package. Council Member Shahana Hanif, representing Brooklyn’s 39th District, negotiated this community-driven deal, which maximizes affordability while maintaining unit count and reducing building height.
New York City’s housing crisis is driven by a shortage of affordable units, especially in Windsor Terrace, where housing stock has declined, and little affordable housing has been built in the past decade. The approved rezoning modifies the original R7-1 zoning, which had no height cap, to R7A, with a legally binding CBA that ensures the building height remains at 10 stories and 40% of the units are affordable.
The CBA also includes subsidized community space for Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, which supports survivors of domestic violence, and a childcare center run by a local provider. The applicant has committed to creating a Construction Task Force to ensure accountability and minimize disruption to residents. The development will also include over 50% of the affordable units as two- and three-bedroom apartments, benefiting working families. Additionally, through a partnership with 32BJ, the project will generate good-paying union jobs for New Yorkers and incorporate sustainable features such as a green roof and stormwater management measures.
This agreement reflects a community-led approach to development, one that prioritizes affordability and neighborhood needs. It stands as a model for how communities and elected officials can work together to address the housing crisis and community needs in New York City.
“I’m proud to set a high standard for community-driven, affordability-focused land use policy, made possible by Speaker Adrienne Adams’ leadership and support,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “This project is a major win for Windsor Terrace and our city: two ten-story buildings with 250 units, 40% affordability—achieved without public subsidies. We secured a shorter building, maximized affordability, and delivered critical community benefits, including green roofs, flood management improvements, a childcare facility, subsidized rent for Sakhi for South Asian Women, and strong job commitments with 32BJ. I applaud my constituents for their tireless advocacy and commitment to affordable housing.”
“This City Council is consistently delivering housing solutions that make our city and homes more affordable amidst the housing crisis,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The revised project, negotiated by Council Member Hanif and approved by the Council’s Land Use Committee, will deliver permanently affordable homes and community services that benefit the surrounding neighborhood and all New Yorkers. The Council will continue to prioritize expanding affordability and housing in every part of the city, including areas that have historically not produced affordable homes. I thank Council Member Hanif, Land Use Chair Salamanca, and Zoning and Franchises Chair Riley for their partnership to get this project across the finish line.”
“Today’s vote on the revised Arrow Linen project will allow for the creation of over 250 units of housing, 100 of which will be affordable, representing a small but critical step forward in addressing some of New York City’s most pressing housing challenges,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley, Chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises. “It is essential that all neighborhoods contribute to building more housing and increasing the number of affordable homes that meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers. Today’s committee approval of the Arrow Linen rezoning is another important step forward for greater affordability in New York City.”
“The City Council’s historic ‘City for All’ text amendment set out to ensure that every neighborhood does its fair share in addressing the city’s housing crisis,” stated Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Chair of the Committee on Land Use. “Today, we did just that with the approval of the Arrow Linen redevelopment. In addition to a commitment to include union jobs and an ironclad community benefits agreement negotiated by the community, for the community, this approval will bring 250 units of housing, 100 of which being much-needed affordable housing, to an area that has seen little new construction. I strongly commend Council Member Shahana Hanif for her efforts to secure more affordable housing than required, and for standing firm with the needs of her community.”
“This project would be dead in the water if it were not for Council Member Hanif’s leadership and determination,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “The Council Member weathered immense pressure to walk away from this project and instead delivered a much-needed win that raises the bar for new and affordable development in an amenity-rich neighborhood. This project achieves 40% permanent affordability and lower heights, all while preserving the original 250 proposed units. This is a win for Windsor Terrace and a victory notched in our fight against the housing crisis.”
“The affordable housing crisis in New York City is more pronounced than ever,” said Council Member Keith Powers. “It’s far past time to build more housing for New Yorkers, and it’s crucial for that housing to be affordable. The Arrow Linen project takes a step towards addressing the crisis, creating 100 newly affordable units in the beautiful neighborhood of Windsor Terrace. I hope to see more projects like this one across New York City.”
“Council Member Hanif has demonstrated community-driven leadership in the fight for truly affordable housing,” said Council Member Erik Bottcher. “Her commitment to maximizing affordability while ensuring neighborhood needs are met is exactly the kind of bold, principled advocacy our city needs. This rezoning isn’t just about housing—it’s about equity, stability, and a future where working families can thrive. Shahana’s work in Windsor Terrace is a model for how we can deliver real affordability across New York City.”
“New York City faces a dire housing crisis, caused by an obvious and inexcusable housing shortage. Our city must build more housing and, critically, allow much more housing to be built,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. “This project rises to the moment, with an important emphasis on affordable units. Council Member Hanif, Speaker Adams, and the advocates of the Arrow Linen rezoning deserve praise for their leadership and clear-eyed understanding of the suffocating housing shortage that causes millions of New Yorkers to struggle and many to leave. All of Brooklyn stands to benefit.”
“I applaud today’s passage of a rezoning in my backyard — because I don’t know about you, but I’m not leaving,” said State Senator Zellnor Myrie. “The Arrow Linen rezoning will create new mixed-income homes in one of the least affordable neighborhoods in our city — and this is an important step toward building more housing. Thank you to Council Member Shahana Hanif and Borough President Antonio Reynoso for their hard work in rallying support for this proposal and reaching a deal.”
“Throughout this process, I have always advocated for a nine-story building because I felt that this struck the right balance between the need for housing development and community concerns,” said Assembly Member Bobby Carroll. “I commend Housing Not Highrises for their advocacy, which resulted in a more appropriate sized building, deeper affordability, and some protection for the adjacent small residential buildings. I commend Councilmember Hanif for her hard work, commitment to meaningful affordability at the site, and dedication to addressing New York’s housing crisis. I remain concerned that a future developer will seek to change the Community Benefits Agreement and seek greater building height and additional concessions. I trust Council Member Hanif will work to ensure the owner and developers of the Arrow Linen site will meet the terms of the Community Benefits Agreement, which is largely enforceable based on her vigilance and advocacy.”
“I congratulate Council Member Hanif in negotiating an agreement that will bring critically needed housing and affordable housing to a community that desperately needs it while also addressing the concerns of local residents,” said Michelle de la Uz, Executive Director of the Fifth Avenue Committee. “Finding a way to balance competing interests so that the needs of a broader range of New Yorkers can be met is a win for both the local community and the City as a whole. FAC looks forward to working with the Developer to ensure they deliver on the commitments that they have made.”
“This rezoning is a groundbreaking victory for survivors of gender-based violence and the Windsor Terrace community,” said Kavita Mehra, Executive Director for Sakhi for South Asian Survivors. By securing subsidized space for Sakhi, we are ensuring that survivors have a safe, accessible, and permanent resource for critical support. The commitment to deeply affordable housing, flood resilience, childcare, and good jobs sets a powerful precedent for development that prioritizes the needs of community over profit. This is what true community-driven progress looks like.”
“The long-term affordability of Windsor Terrace—and New York City as a whole—depends on building more homes,” said Annemarie Gray, Executive Director of Open New York. “This project is a prime example of how we can add much-needed mixed-income housing in a well-resourced neighborhood and start to make a dent in our dire housing shortage. Thanks to Council Member Hanif’s leadership, the final project saw significant improvements while maintaining the same number of homes as the initial proposal. We look forward to more steps toward a more affordable and inclusive city.”
“When tenant champions like Councilmember Shahana Hanif lead, we don’t just get promises — we get real affordable homes and stronger communities,” said Cea Weaver, Coalition Director of Housing Justice for All. “For too long, landlords and developers have dictated who gets to live in our neighborhoods, but tenants are the majority in this city. We elected representatives who fight for us, and now we’re winning true affordability for working class families. This rezoning proves that when we organize and govern for the people — not real estate — we can make New York a city for all of us.”
“Council Member Hanif negotiated a tremendous win for affordable housing in Windsor Terrace,” said Rachel Fee, District 39 resident. “This deal turns an outdated and underutilized commercial laundry and parking lot into much-needed housing in a transit-oriented community rich with amenities and excellent public schools. I commend the Council Member for addressing New York City’s housing shortage by prioritizing affordable housing in a neighborhood that has historically added very little housing. Without her leadership, it is likely this site would have remained underdeveloped for years to come.”
“As a renter who has lived on the block for 20 years and put up with the noise and pollution of an industrial facility in order to live in a truly wonderful neighborhood, the transformation of the Arrow Linen site into a larger-scale residential building is very exciting,” said Beth Allen, District 39, Windsor Terrace resident. “I work in the arts, and having witnessed the effects of the housing crisis on Brooklyn’s arts community in recent years – so many colleagues have been priced out of Brooklyn – the need for additional housing in neighborhoods that are convenient to public transportation, schools, shops, and parks is especially evident. I especially applaud CM Hanif and her team for securing additional affordable units and community amenities in the building, and look forward to welcoming my new neighbors.”
“As a longtime local resident, father, and direct neighbor to the Arrow Linen site, I am heartened that CM Hanif has chosen to allow the proposed development to proceed,” said Alex Weinberg, District 39, Windsor Terrace resident. “It is of continuing concern that a human need – housing – is a matter of public debate. New developments are subject to intense opposition by wealthy homeowners who are more concerned about shadows falling on their powdered wigs than the city’s growing homeless population. Our choice is clear: more homes or more homeless shelters. I am also alarmed by the needlessly complex and time-consuming development process that must be navigated to construct new housing. Even the City of Yes zoning reforms will only enable the construction of a small fraction of the new homes that our city needs.”
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About Council Member Shahana Hanif: Council Member Shahana Hanif represents Brooklyn’s 39th District and is Co-Chair of the New York City Council’s Progressive Caucus and the Council’s Task Force to Combat Hate. Born and raised in the 39th District to Bangladeshi immigrant parents, Council Member Hanif has dedicated her career to advocating for working-class families and advancing a city built on care, equity, and safety. Since her election in 2021, Council Member Hanif has passed significant legislation, including Local Law 85 (2023), which mandates universal residential composting; Local Laws 75 and 76 (2022), which protect and expand abortion rights in NYC; and Local Law 161 (2023), which created a pioneering Immigrant Workers Bill of Rights. She also enacted Local Law 45 (2024), providing survivors of domestic violence with free lock changes, personal safety alarms, and door and window repairs. Council Member Hanif is the first Muslim woman ever elected to the New York City Council and the first woman to represent the 39th District in the New York City Council.
