Breaking Ground permitted for $18.1M conversion of 301K sf building to 491 affordable units in Dumbo

The nonprofit social services organization Breaking Ground, on October 14, was given a permit for an $18.1 million project to convert a 301,618-square-foot hotel building at 90 Sands Street in Dumbo to a building for supportive and affordable housing with 491 units.

The plans, pre-filed on January 7, call for no change in size but a change in use of the 330-foot tall, 30-story building. The number of units will decrease from the current number of 508 hotel rooms to 491 residential units.

The project is described in the filings as: conversion of existing building to non-profit institution with sleeping accommodations and new commercial office space at first floor. No enlargement or change in building bulk. The initial cost as reported in the DOB filing for the work described in this permit application is $18,065,041.

The ground floor lobby will be converted to commercial office space, per the plans. Floors four through 28 will be converted to non-profit sleeping accommodations. In total, the redevelopment will yield 491 rooms. According to reports, the rooms would be used for supportive and affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households.

The new building is expected to be fully operational by 2022.

The former Jehovah’s Witness property was acquired for $170 million on August 23, 2018.

Direct link to Acris document.LINK

Direct link to DOB document.LINK