Permits filed for 18-unit apartment building in Crown Heights

Overview

Updated Oct 29

Permits filed this month would replace it with an 18-unit, four-story apartment building. The four-story structure would hold homes averaging 447 square feet.

The lot sits 0.6 miles from the Utica Avenue station, where the A and C trains stop. The Department of Buildings is reviewing the application, and city records will show whether the owner revises it.

Why it matters

A 1901 house becomes 18 apartments near an A/C subway stop, a small step toward easing New York's housing shortage.

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Key Indicators

Residences planned

Average unit size is 447 square feet, suggesting rental apartments.

8,057 sq ft

Residential floor area

Total residential space across the four-story building.

Building stories

52-foot-tall masonry structure with a penthouse and 75-foot rear yard.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Lazer Berger

Owner and permit applicant

Listed as owner on the new building applications

Mohammad Ahead

Architect of record

Named architect of record via Mohammad Ahead PE PLLC

Organizations Involved

New York City Department of Buildings

Municipal agency

Reviews and issues the permit applications

The city agency that reviews and issues building and demolition permits in New York City.

New York YIMBY

News outlet

Reported the permit filing

News outlet covering New York City real estate and development.

Timeline

1901 October 2026

3 events Latest: October 27th, 2026 · 2 weeks ago

October 2026
Permits filed for 18-unit apartment building
Latest Permit

New York YIMBY reports applications for a four-story, 18-unit building; Lazer Berger listed as owner.
October 27th, 2026
September 2026
Demolition permits filed for existing structure
Permit

Owner files demolition permits for the two-story house ahead of the new development.
September 2026
1901
Two-story house built at 1283 Saint Marks Avenue
Construction

A two-story, 2,500-square-foot house is built on the lot, now slated for demolition.
1901

Scenarios

Building Rises: 18-Unit Crown Heights Building Wins Certificate of Occupancy

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: New York YIMBY and Marketproof track permit progress; small infill projects typically complete within 18 to 24 months of permitting.

If the project proceeds as filed, the owner demolishes the 1901 house and builds the four-story masonry structure. The 18 units, averaging 447 square feet, would add small rental apartments near the A/C line.

Permit Revised: 1283 Saint Marks Building Scaled Back or Redesigned

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: City permit records for the lot, which would show any amended filing.

If the design changes, an amended new-building permit would appear in city records with a different unit count, height or footprint. Filings for small infill buildings are often revised after the first submission.

Project Stalls: Demolition Done, Lot Sits Empty

Uncertain Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: The owner listed the site for sale on Landair, suggesting financing or market conditions may shift before construction.

If the lot is sold or the project can't secure funding, demolition could leave a cleared site waiting for the next plan. This is a common fate for small infill projects in New York when ownership changes.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

1913

Dual Contracts subway expansion spurs Brooklyn density (1913)

In 1913, New York City signed the Dual Contracts, a major expansion of the subway system. New lines reached into Brooklyn, and apartment buildings rose rapidly along the routes, turning single-family and farm land into dense residential neighborhoods.

Then

Brooklyn's population surged as new transit made commuting to Manhattan practical.

Now

The subway-driven density pattern became the template for Brooklyn's apartment stock, a template still visible in transit-adjacent infill today.

Why this matters now

1283 Saint Marks Avenue sits 0.6 miles from the Utica Avenue A/C station. The same transit-density link that built Brooklyn a century ago drives this project's 18-unit plan.

Sources

(3)