Flatbush property development thrives as uncertainty over ‘Affordable New York’ subsides
Flatbush’s real estate development market is booming again after experiencing a temporary lull in the months following last year’s enactment of Affordable New York, the reinstatement of a popular tax incentive. As investor and lender uncertainty subsides, builders will continue to break ground in the rapidly evolving central Brooklyn neighborhood, where its unique dynamics and relative value all but guarantee price appreciation.
The enactment of Affordable New York in April 2017 – a reiteration of the 421-a tax program that expired over two years ago – was welcomed by developers, but many hit the pause button as they took some time to parse its nuances. The new program offers similar tax advantages to 421-a, but differs in some important ways, such as when the abatement is issued, and how taxes are returned.
Affordable New York is undeniably attractive to developers as it provides 100% tax exemption for the construction period, and another 25 years after the completion of a project. After that period, a builder can reap additional tax benefits for another 10 years, with the exemption based squarely on the percentage of affordable units in the building.