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Eight vacant lots in Red Hook and Park Slope will become homes to lower- and middle-income families, as part of a citywide effort to increase affordable housing.

The construction is part of a Bloomberg Administration effort to transfer city-owned lots to private developers of affordable housing.

In Red Hook, that means seven vacant, fenced-off eyesores on Columbia and Union streets will no longer detract from the waterfront’s burgeoning residential potential.

“We’re pretty excited about it,” said architect Hernan Galvis, whose company, Columbia Street Partners, got the city contract to build on the seven Red Hook lots and one in Park Slope.

“This will give the area momentum.”

The seven condominium buildings will comprise roughly 40 units in total.

Retail space will also be integrated into the buildings, Galvis said.

Columbia Street Partners has done extensive work in Red Hook, which was part of their appeal to the Department of Housing and Preservation Development, a spokesman said.

Under the city’s New Foundations program, selected developers are eligible for city subsidies after purchasing such vacant lots at a fire-sale price.

But Columbia Street Partners is not getting city subsidies, Galvis said. Rather, the sale of units to families earning between $56,700 and $92,170 will subsidize the units for lower-income families— who earn less than $56,700 a year.

“This is the best deal for the taxpayer,” said HPD spokesman, Neill Coleman.

Construction will begin next year, Galvis said.

©2006 Community Newspaper Group