An affordable housing lottery has been opened for 56 apartments in a new, nearly block-long, nine-story complex stretching from the corner of Lorimer Street to about three-quarters of Grand Street in Williamsburg.

The new building at 597 Grand Street looks similar to many new developments in the area – boxy with protruding rectangular balconies and a facade of glass and gray panels – and will include an electric vehicle charging station and a small cinema, according to the tender. The building, with a total of 185 apartments, is built on the site of a former Key Foods supermarket and the adjacent parking lot and has the colorful bar Blinky’s as a neighbor.

Of the 56 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments in the lottery, all of which are income-restricted and rent-controlled, 37 could be considered somewhat affordable. These are intended for families earning 80 percent of the area median income, with upper limits for households of one to five people ranging from $63,155 to $134,160.00, the listing says.

Three units are studios that rent for $1,757 a month, 29 are one-bedrooms that rent for $1,875, and five are two-bedrooms that rent for $2,232. The remaining units in the lottery are for households earning 130 percent of the AMI, or between $106,458 and $218,010 for one to five people, including 14 one-bedrooms that rent for $3,317 a month.

The building, designed by NY Building Associates, is decorated in light colors inside, with white walls and light wood and stone, renderings show. The apartments are listed as being equipped with dishwashers, air conditioning and parquet floors. Tenants must pay for electricity, which is used for the stove and heating.

The building is smoke-free and residents are allowed several pets. Market-rate units began leasing in April, according to listings on StreetEasy. The listing says they include electric car charging stations, parking, a shared laundry room, a media room, a yoga studio, a children’s playroom, a fitness center and a business center.

The exterior is a mix of light and dark grays. Dark-paned windows cover much of the facade, and some units have dark gray balconies. Renderings show green spaces on the roof and seventh-floor terraces created by setbacks.

Prior to redevelopment, the property at 597 Grand Street was home to a one-story Key Food supermarket with parking, which had an address of 575 Grand Street. City records show that the supermarket’s owners sold the property in 2021 for $42.5 million to Lorimer Streets Holding LLC, with Yitzchok Katz of Developing NY State as the signatory. In March 2022, the Building Department issued a demolition permit for the building.

The mixed-use building benefits from New York’s FRESH program and will include 800 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor, likely again dedicated to a grocery store. It also appears to be an inclusionary residential building and will likely qualify for the now-expired 421-a tax abatement.

The lottery for the 597 Grand Street Apartments ends September 20. To apply, visit the ad on the City of New York’s Housing Connect website.

This story first appeared on Brooklyn Paper’s sister site, Brownstoner