HPD celebrates new Brooklyn homes.

First-time homeowners, local residents and public officials today celebrated the completion of 45 new, affordable, two-family homes developed through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Partnership in the Ocean Hill section of Brooklyn.

Borough President, Marty Markowitz, Assemblyman William F. Boyland and Councilwoman Tracy Boyland attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of the homes located on Prospect Place between Howard and Ralph Avenues. During the ceremony, the development was renamed the Evelyn Burns Homes at Oceanhill North in honor of the late community leader who fought for revitalization and affordable housing in Ocean Hill.

Suna/Levine Industries, Inc. served as developer of the $12.3 million Partnership New Homes project. The homes sold for an average of $214,961 to buyers with household incomes between $34,000 and $75,000. The community sponsors were Berean Baptist Church and the Astella Development Corporation. The New York State: Affordable Housing Corporation provided $765,000 in funding, while $900,000 came from a New York City loan subsidy. JPMorgan Chase Community Development Corporation provided an $8.2 million construction loan.

HPD Deputy Commissioner Kimberly Hardy said, "Evelyn Burns Homes stands with the more than 1,600 ownership units already developed in this community through HPD-sponsored housing construction. The Ocean Hill neighborhood has been reborn through the commitment of these homeowners who want a quality place to live with shops and services nearby and a safe place for their children to play."

"We are committed to rebuilding entire neighborhoods," said George Armstrong, president and CEO of the New York City Housing Partnership. "Evelyn Burns Homes is another successful example of our public private partnership providing affordable, quality homes for New Yorkers and improving the economy and health of the Ocean Hill neighborhood."

"These homes demonstrate the positive impact affordable homes can have on a community," said Stuart Match Suna, principal of Suna/Levine Industries, Inc. "The Evelyn Burns Homes have made homeownership a reality for dozens of families and will strengthen the community as a whole."

"The New York State Affordable Housing Corporation is committed to helping hard working New Yorkers become homeowners," said Stephen J. Hunt, president and CEO of AHC. "AHC's grant of $765,000 is an investment not only in the families who will become first-time homeowners, but in the Ocean Hill neighborhood as well."

Oceanhill West, a similar affordable housing development adjacent to the Evelyn Burns Homes is currently under construction. Oceanhill South and Oceanhill East will be coming to the area in the near future.

Each two-story brick home includes a three-bedroom owner's unit with wall-to-wall carpeting and private rear yard, as well as a two-bedroom renter's unit.

Evelyn Burns lived in the Ocean Hill community for more than 50 years. She was a member of Community Board 16 from 1976 to 1995 and supported many affordable housing initiatives. Bums was involved in numerous other community organizations including the Missionary Board of the New Frontier Baptist Church, Parent Teacher Association, and Prospect Plaza Tenants Association.