This edition of the Phius Project Spotlight series highlights the Chestnut Commons multifamily project in Brooklyn, New York.
Our April Project Spotlight is a decorated affordable housing project having won multiple awards in the 2023 Phius Passive Projects Design Competition: Chestnut Commons in Brooklyn, New York.
In case you missed it, our monthly Project Spotlights are our way of highlighting the cutting-edge work being done by Phius professionals and providing examples of successful design and construction strategies. We will be featuring projects of various sizes, typologies, and climate zones, offering you a peek behind the curtain of each. The Project Spotlight series will appear in e-blasts to our mailing list (be sure to join if you haven’t already) as well as right here in the Klingenblog.
Chestnut Commons, a joint project led by CHLDC (Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation), is poised to reshape Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, with an ambitious undertaking that tackles crucial community needs. Chestnut Commons has a dual purpose: to provide much-needed affordable housing and establish a vibrant community hub. Offering 275 units of deeply affordable housing, ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments, the project aims to address housing affordability in Cypress Hills. Beyond housing, the project expects to rejuvenate the neighborhood by including essential retail spaces and a comprehensive community center.
Chestnut Commons places sustainability and energy efficiency at the forefront of its design. The project achieved Enterprise Green Communities 2015 certification, NYSERDA’s New Construction Program – Tier III energy savings and Phius Certification May 2023. Standout features include an all-electric high efficiency mechanical design, rooftop solar panels, green spaces, and passive solar shading. These measures align with the project's commitment to promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle for residents.
The project is open to residents as of August 2022. This accelerated timeline underscores the urgency of the affordable housing crisis in Cypress Hills. Chestnut Commons is providing accessible housing and community resources swiftly, addressing immediate needs.
Fundamentally, Chestnut Commons envisions itself as a comprehensive community asset. It consolidates CHLDC's services into one centralized location, acting as a catalyst for workforce development, education, and cultural enrichment. The community center promises to be a dynamic hub offering job training, arts and culture programs, urban agriculture initiatives, and more.
Furthermore, the project integrates a satellite campus for CUNY Kingsborough Community College, shared classrooms, a job training center, fitness facilities, a food manufacturing incubator, and a social services center run by Cypress Hills Local Development Corp. This holistic approach aligns with the goals of the East New York Neighborhood Plan, elevating the community with economic opportunities and sustainable design.
Chestnut Commons exemplifies a holistic approach to community development, addressing the affordable housing crisis while fostering education, job training, and cultural enrichment while promoting the energy reduction and comfort improvement benefits of Phius.
All images credit to Dattner Architects.