Most Pro-Housing Administration in City History: Mayor Adams, Gilbane Development, Blue Sea Development, Artspace Advance Plan to Build 283 Affordable Homes, new Arts Center in Brownsville

July 10, 2025

Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments Project Will Bring Hundreds of New Affordable Homes, Residential Space, and Cultural Arts Center to Brooklyn

All-Electric Project Earned NYSERDA’s Blue Ribbon Award for Design Excellence,
Construction Expected to Start in July 2025 and Finish in December 2027

Closing Comes Ahead of Adams Administration’s Fiscal Year 2025 Production Numbers Announcement

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, Gilbane Development, Blue Sea Development, and Artspace Projects, Inc., today announced the financing of the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments (BACA) project. Located on a city-owned site at 366 Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn, BACA will create 283 new affordable rental apartments available to households earning between 30 percent and 70 percent of the area median income, including a mix of studios to three-bedroom apartments, as well as dedicated units for formerly homeless individuals. Additionally, BACA will deliver a 28,000 square-foot cultural arts center with a 3,440 square-foot multi-purpose performance, rehearsal, and studio space for community arts groups. Along with nearly 263,000 square feet of residential space, the new cultural arts center and affordable housing will serve as a vibrant and inclusive community hub. BACA is expected to cost $254 million, with the Adams administration contributing nearly $100 million in city subsidies. BACA marks a major step forward in bringing transformative, affordable housing and dynamic community-centered space to the heart of Brownsville and builds on the Adams administration’s record as the most pro-housing administration in city history. In addition to creating record amounts of affordable housing two years in a row, passing the first citywide zoning reform in 60 years, and advancing five neighborhood plans to create jobs and new housing across the city, new housing like his one will help New York City reach Mayor Adams’ moonshot goal of creating 500,000 new homes by 2032.

BACA will bring hundreds of new affordable homes and a world-class cultural center to Brownsville, Brooklyn. Credit: Aufgang Architects

“New Yorkers need affordable homes and vibrant community spaces. This dynamic project in the heart of Brownsville will deliver both. It will give more New Yorkers an affordable place to live, a welcoming place to express themselves, and a quality place to spend time together,” said Mayor Adams. “Projects like this that deliver affordable homes and help cultivate community are at the heart of our administration’s work. From creating record amounts of affordable housing two years in a row to passing historic zoning reform to build tens of thousands of new homes across all five boroughs, we are proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history.”

“The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments project represents what the Adams’ administration stands for — affordable, sustainable housing paired with community spaces that strengthen the fabric of our city,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “This project is an investment in Brownsville’s future; we are creating homes, nurturing creativity, and building a stronger, more vibrant neighborhood for generations to come.”

“BACA is more than a meaningful investment in quality, affordable housing — it’s a powerful example of what a holistic response to community needs can look like. It stands apart as a commitment to creating accessible space for the performing and visual arts, a safe and vibrant place to celebrate our cultural diversity, and a catalyst for building real connections that bring out the best in our communities,” said HPD Acting Commissioner Tigani. “The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments will deliver 283 affordable homes alongside a new cultural hub, reminding us why we must invest not just in buildings, but in people. When we create space for creativity and expression, we strengthen our neighborhoods and open doors for every New Yorker to feel seen, discover their passions, and feel truly at home. We thank our partners for making this bold and beautiful vision a reality.”

“The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments exemplifies how affordable housing and cultural investments can be combined to strengthen communities,” said New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Eric Enderlin. “HDC is proud to support the financing of this development, which will bring 283 affordable homes and lasting benefits to the residents of Brownsville.”

“Arts and culture are the building blocks of safe, vibrant, and connected communities,” said New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “With the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments, we’re creating affordable housing and planting deep roots for cultural expression and community pride right in the heart of the neighborhood. Thanks to a tremendous investment from the Adams administration, this project is a testament to what’s possible when a city prioritizes the well-being of its people, equity, and culture. It affirms that every community deserves access to the arts and that Brownsville’s artistic voices matter. This project gives local creatives the space to thrive and inspire, while opening the doors for the whole community to experience, participate in, and be uplifted by the arts.”

“Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments is a powerful expression of our commitment to equitable development through design, collaboration, and community,” said Yarojin Robinson, senior vice president, affordable & mixed-income housing, Gilbane Development. “This project goes beyond housing — it’s a cultural and residential anchor that will uplift and inspire Brownsville for years to come. We’re proud to partner with Blue Sea Development and Artspace to bring this vision to life — made possible in no small part thanks to the vital financial support from both the city and the state.”

“The future Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments will provide much-needed affordable housing and serve as a vibrant cultural hub,” said Raquel Diaz, vice president and New York City business leader, Gilbane Building. “Gilbane is proud to help bring this vision of affordable, creative community living to life and we look forward to constructing this model, energy-efficient project.”

“It means a great deal to all of us at Blue Sea Development and Gilbane Development to be part of a project that treats cultural infrastructure and affordable housing not as separate needs, but as shared pillars of community life,” said Jacob Bluestone, Blue Sea Development Company. “When you pair affordable housing with dedicated cultural spaces to perform, practice, and gather, you create more than a place to live—you create a place to thrive.”

Following the completion of a competitive request for proposals process led by HPD, BACA will pair deeply affordable housing with opportunities for cultural expression and community connection. Gilbane Development, Blue Sea Development, and Artspace Projects, Inc. will serve as joint venture development partners; Gilbane Building will serve as general contractor; and Aufgang Architects will serve as architect. Gilbane Development is the real estate development, financing, and ownership arm of Gilbane, Inc. With over $11.8 billion in development and more than 25,000 units of housing either completed or underway, Gilbane Development’s projects incorporate every aspect of real estate, including multifamily housing (market rate apartments, student housing, and affordable housing); mixed-used developments; health care facilities; K-12 schools; government facilities; and many types of facilities delivered through public-private partnerships. Additionally, Blue Sea Development Company is a real estate development company known for high-performance multifamily and mixed-use buildings, including the first affordable Energy Star, LEED-Platinum, and Partnership for a Healthier America Active Design-Verified developments in New York state. With its deep commitment to community engagement, every project reflects a belief in providing quality, affordable, sustainable homes to the people who need them most.

Designed as an all-electric building, BACA targets high environmental and building standards, including the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) 2021 CORE standard, LEED Platinum, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Multifamily New Construction Program, EPA’s Indoor airPlus, and Fitwel certifications. BACA has been recognized by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) as part of its Buildings of Excellence and Building Cleaner Communities Competitions. With construction starting in July 2025 and completion expected in December 2027, BACA represents a transformative investment in the social and cultural fabric of the Brownsville neighborhood.

This project will be made possible through funding from HPD and HDC, who collectively provided $88.1 million in housing subsidies. Funding for the project also includes $8.2 million of city capital subsidy provided by DCLA for the arts center, as well as grants from NYSERDA and the Empire State Development Corporation. Additional funding sources also include $2 million in RESO A funding provided by former New York City Councilmember Alicka Ampry-Samuel, $1 million in Reso A funding provided by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Brownfield Tax credit equity and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits syndicated by Raymond James, and construction financing provided by TD Bank.

“The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments represent the kind of community-centered development that strengthens neighborhoods while generating and expanding opportunities,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “As this innovative project reaches a crucial milestone, we are proud to support this new cultural destination that will provide essential affordable housing for Brownsville families."

“Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments is a powerful expression of our commitment to equitable development through design, collaboration, and community,” said Yarojin Robinson, senior vice president, affordable & mixed-income housing, Gilbane Development. “This project goes beyond housing — it’s a cultural and residential anchor that will uplift and inspire Brownsville for years to come. We’re proud to partner with Blue Sea Development and Artspace to bring this vision to life — made possible in no small part thanks to the vital financial support from both the city and the state.”

“The future Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments will provide much-needed affordable housing and serve as a vibrant cultural hub,” said Raquel Diaz, vice president and New York City business leader, Gilbane Building. “Gilbane is proud to help bring this vision of affordable, creative community living to life, and we look forward to constructing this model, energy-efficient project.”

“It means a great deal to all of us at Blue Sea Development and Gilbane Development to be part of a project that treats cultural infrastructure and affordable housing not as separate needs, but as shared pillars of community life,” said Jacob Bluestone, Blue Sea Development Company. “When you pair affordable housing with dedicated cultural spaces to perform, practice, and gather, you create more than a place to live—you create a place to thrive.”

“The Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments embodies the goal of NYSERDA’s Building Cleaner Communities and Buildings of Excellence competitions by developing clean, modern living spaces that feature the latest energy efficient and clean heating and cooling technology,” said Susanne DesRoches, vice president of clean and resilient buildings, NYSERDA. “Congratulations to the team on taking this monumental step towards providing Brownsville residents with healthy, comfortable homes while supporting the transformation of the community as a whole."

“Artspace is honored to support the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments as a partner, helping steward the commercial spaces where community and culture will flourish,” said Will Law, president, Artspace Projects, Inc. “Through the project, we will create a stable framework that helps local partners remain rooted and active in the neighborhood. This project reflects our commitment to making space—literally and figuratively—for the artists and organizations who help communities thrive,”

“The Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments will be an important new community resource, bringing much needed affordable housing and valuable cultural programming to Brownsville,” said Ariel Aufgang, AIA, principal, Aufgang Architects. “We're pleased to partner with Gilbane and Blue Sea Development in designing this project to meet the highest environmental standards while strengthening the social and cultural fabric of the neighborhood.”

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