Caton Flats

Case Study Summary: Caton Flats transformed a Caribbean vendors’ market and municipal surface parking lot in Brooklyn, New York. The new construction, mixed-use property retained the existing marketplace, added office and commercial space, parking, and mixed-income housing. A 14-story, 276,288 square-foot building, Caton Flats is located on the corner of Caton and Flatbush Avenues, just south of Prospect Park. In addition to 255 units of affordable and workforce housing, Caton Flats is home to a redeveloped and expanded Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace. The market provides spaces for vendors selling a variety of goods that celebrate the area’s Caribbean-American culture. Additionally, a shared commercial kitchen and design studio offers opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The completion of this project represents the culmination of a multi-year visioning process with NYCEDC, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), in partnership with former New York City council member Dr. Una S. T. Clarke, Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry founder Dr. Roy Hastick, local elected officials, and community members. Caton Flats was awarded the 2023 Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing Awards by the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing.

For more examples of past Terwilliger Center for Housing award winners, see Broadway Lofts and Lucille & Bruce Terwilliger Place case studies.