New affordable housing project for seniors breaks ground in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN (PIX11) – A new affordable housing development for seniors has officially broken ground in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
The Gail P. Duke Senior Residence, located on Lavonia Avenue, aims to address the pressing need for affordable housing among older adults in the community.
More Local News
The development, spearheaded by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, will provide 141 sustainable, affordable apartments with supportive services for low-income seniors. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
Tim McManus, Senior VP of Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation, highlighted the comprehensive services that will be available to residents.
"We're very fortunate to have our own in-house services team that we work with hand in hand. A place for the community, we have individuals that work in case management, connection services, financial literacy programs," McManus said.
"The community has spoken, the Nehemiah homeowners have spoken, and we were able to come to an agreement on how this project could move forward," said Genese Morgan, Chairperson of Brooklyn Community Board 16. He expressed enthusiasm for the project.
Morgan emphasized the importance of the development for the local senior population, saying, "Our senior population obviously is one of the most vulnerable populations, and they need safety. They need to be stimulated, they need to have activities, and so this is going to be really good for them in terms of safety, longevity, and quality of life."
Adolfo Carrion, Commissioner of NYC Housing Preservation and Development praised the community's activism in bringing the project to fruition.
"This is the result of community activism and a response to the opportunity to develop publicly owned, city-owned sites, and this community in Brownsville spoke and said, you know what our older adults, people who are aging who've given us their whole working life, they need quality homes," Carrion added.
