Crown Heights is in the middle of a building boom — and the permitting activity along Dean Street is one of the clearest signs that the neighborhood is entering a new phase of development. Multiple large-scale projects have filed permits in recent weeks, signaling that developers are moving fast to capitalize on the area’s transit access and the city’s evolving zoning landscape.
Here’s what’s been filed, what it means for the neighborhood, and what residents should know about the process and their rights.
971 Dean Street: An 11-Story Mixed-Use Building with 228 Units
The most recent filing along the corridor came on April 29, 2026, when PIFR Real Estate Holdings LLC — owned by Valon Pilku — filed permits for an 11-story mixed-use building at 971 Dean Street, between Classon and Franklin Avenues. The proposed development would yield approximately 177,000 square feet, with around 154,000 square feet designated for residential use and 23,000 square feet for commercial space.
The plans call for 228 units, likely rentals based on the average unit scope. The building would also include 15 open parking spaces and a cellar level. Kao Hwa Lee Architects is listed as the architect of record. As of early May 2026, demolition permits had not yet been filed — meaning the site is still in the planning and approval phase.
The location is well-positioned for transit: the site sits near the Franklin Avenue subway stations, served by the C and S trains, making it attractive to renters who commute across the borough or into Manhattan.
903 Dean Street: Another Tower in the Works
Just a few weeks earlier, in April 2026, permits were also filed for a 12-story tower at 903 Dean Street — also in Crown Heights. That project, reported by Hoodline, is another indicator that the Dean Street corridor has become a focal point for mid-rise development as the neighborhood evolves.
Multiple projects being advanced along the same street in quick succession is a sign that a rezoning or policy shift has made the area more attractive to developers — and that longtime residents and local advocates need to be paying close attention to the public review process for each project.
The Broader Crown Heights Rezoning Picture
The flurry of permit activity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Crown Heights sits in a swath of Central Brooklyn where land values have risen significantly over the past decade, and where the city’s City of Yes and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing policies are beginning to shape what gets built and at what price. Developers have also been acquiring sites near where rezonings are anticipated or already underway.
A recent report in The Real Deal noted that developers have been snapping up sites at the center of a Brooklyn rezoning fight — suggesting that speculative land acquisition is ahead of the public process in some areas, which typically raises concerns among community advocates about displacement pressure on existing renters.
Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s office conducts land use reviews and holds public hearings through the ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure) process for projects of this scale. Hearings are held every second Wednesday of the month, and residents can participate in person at Brooklyn Borough Hall or via webex.
What Happens Next — and When You Can Weigh In
For projects like those on Dean Street, the formal public review process begins after all permits are certified by the Department of City Planning. At that point, Community Board 8 (which covers Crown Heights) will hold a public hearing and issue a recommendation. The Borough President’s office reviews it next, followed by the City Planning Commission and, in some cases, the City Council.
If you live in Crown Heights and have thoughts about what these buildings should look like, how much affordable housing they should include, or what amenities the neighborhood needs, the community board hearing is your most direct point of entry. CB8 typically meets on the second Monday of the month.
What You Need to Know
- Permits were filed on April 29, 2026 for an 11-story, 228-unit building at 971 Dean Street between Classon and Franklin Avenues.
- A separate 12-story project at 903 Dean Street also filed permits in April 2026.
- Both buildings are in the permit stage — demolition has not begun at either site as of early May 2026.
- Crown Heights Community Board 8 is the first stop for public input on land use applications in the neighborhood.
- ULURP hearings at Brooklyn Borough Hall are held every second Wednesday of the month — the public may attend in person or via Webex.
- If you rent in the area, stay alert to lease renewal terms and be aware that displacement pressure can intensify ahead of major development activity.
For more on how Brooklyn’s policy landscape is shifting, see our earlier coverage of World Cup 2026 legislation and what it means for Brooklyn neighborhoods. And if you want to learn how to find your community board and show up for these hearings, our guide to NYC City Council districts and community boards walks you through it step by step.
