Housing progress and small-business grants

The former St. Vincent de Paul church remains boarded up, with a construction timetable still unannounced.

The lots at 131 West 23rd Street and their West 24th Street frontage have been cleared for a long-planned apartment-and-hotel project.

Designs call for incorporating the former St. Vincent de Paul church into the new development. Older height and unit counts remain unconfirmed, so they do not establish the current size of the project.

A construction schedule has not been announced.

The 17-story plan includes commercial space and 19 permanently affordable residences.

A 17-story building application would bring apartments and ground-floor commercial space to Downtown Brooklyn. The proposed address is 340 Livingston Street, at the intersection with Nevins Street.

Plans call for 19 permanently affordable residences through the city’s Universal Affordability Preference. Demolition permits have not yet been filed.

The anticipated schedule puts demolition in early 2027 and completion in 2029, with both dates remaining estimates.

The selected recipients span food, speech therapy and home services; this round’s awards have already been decided.

Five local operators have been selected for microgrants through the Queens Economic Development Corporation and Maspeth Federal Savings. The program drew more than 500 applications, organizers say.

Recipients are Astoria’s Noushi Pastry, Hand in Hand Speech Therapy in Queens Village, Sivaro Snacks in Long Island City, Sunnyside’s Wandering Shuckers and mobile provider Henry Handy Service.

The $1,000 awards can cover needs such as equipment repairs or printed menus.

River Apartments II is planned to include 292 affordable homes, with 173 offering on-site support.

Below-grade work is underway on a 20-story building in West Concourse. The $225 million project, River Apartments II, is taking shape at 1185 River Avenue.

Community Access and Blue Sky Bronx are developing 292 affordable apartments for households earning up to 80 percent of area median income. The plan includes 173 supportive homes and a cellar space intended for a grocery store.