Code: BACPP (City pilot program for basement legalization)
Description: (Basement Apartment Conversion Pilot Program) is a New York City housing program that offered low or no-interest loans and technical help to certain owners to convert basements or cellars into safe, legal rental apartments in East New York and Cypress Hills, Brooklyn (Community District 5). The program was limited to one- to three-family homes where the owner lived in the building as their primary residence and met income limits.
Practical Meaning: For a NYC homeowner in East New York or Cypress Hills, this program was a way to get city-backed financing and expert help to upgrade an existing basement or cellar into a code-compliant apartment, instead of trying to fix an illegal unit alone. It could cover part of the construction cost through loans up to $120,000, sometimes at low or no interest, and connect the owner with approved architects, contractors, and support.
Where You May See It: You may see this program name in HPD materials about basements, in NYC.gov pages on basement and cellar apartments, in Community District 5 outreach flyers, or in older loan and construction documents for basement conversions done under the pilot. It can also appear in 311 information pages, news articles, and policy reports discussing basement legalization and East New York pilot projects.
Why It Matters: This program shows how the city tried to turn many unsafe or informal basement setups into legal units with proper fire, safety, and building-code protections, while giving owners a path to stable rental income. Even though applications under this specific pilot have closed and the filing deadline with the Department of Buildings has passed, the rules and experience from BACPP influence new city efforts to legalize basement apartments and may shape future programs a homeowner could use.
Source: More about the Basement Apartment Conversion Pilot Program