Local officials are celebrating the start of the construction phase of Glenmore Manor in Brownsville, a game changing affordable housing development.
“Unless you've been living under a rock for the last decade, we all know there's an acute housing crisis going on across the state, and that certainly includes large swaths of Central and Eastern Brooklyn,” said assemblywoman Latrice Walker. “This is an exciting step toward addressing the housing crisis."
A number of local officials and community members gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on July 24, which marked the start of the construction phase of Glenmore Manor.
Glenmore Manor will be located at 97 Glenmore Avenue along the intersection of Christopher Avenue and Glenmore Avenue.
The development will include the creation of 232 affordable housing units. These units will serve families earning up to 80% of the area median income, including formerly homeless families and low-income seniors.
"The Glenmore Manor will bring needed units of affordable housing to the community – particularly for low-income seniors," Walker said. "The project also brings the promise of retail space on the ground floor, space for recreation and onsite services that will promote independent living.”
The first two floors of the building will serve as an entrepreneurial hub. The B’Ville Hub will offer approximately 20,000 square feet of community and commercial facilities that are dedicated to growing community wealth and creating opportunities and tools to support businesses.
Within the hub, the community-based federal credit union Brooklyn Cooperative will provide loan opportunities for new businesses and teach financial literacy courses.
"Brooklyn Cooperative's mission is to offer affordable, accessible and high-quality financial services to our member-owners," said Brooklyn Cooperative CEO Samira Rajan. "Brownsville faces a chronic lack of the services that we offer. For both individuals and businesses, building wealth is almost impossible when affordable credit and quality banking are scarce. We believe that a dedicated Brownsville branch will offer superior, locally-rooted and nonprofit financial services to build the wealth of this community."
The site will be facilitating satellite courses from Medgar Evers College — Adult and Continuing Education (Brooklyn, NY) and Howard University (Washington, DC).
Glenmore Manor is also expected to include:
- A publicly run radio station
- A health and wellness beauty salon
- A fitness center
- A restaurant called Fusion East
Restaurateur Andrew Walcott of Fusion East will be providing classes for young people interested in becoming restaurateurs. Additionally, at the fitness center, a local nonprofit called We Run Brownsville will offer a number of different classes.
This development project is a result of The Brownsville Plan, a program by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).
Through the program, the HPD engaged the community in a year-long process to identify areas of need for three vacant lots in Brownsville.
"For over a year, we worked directly with residents to create the Brownsville Plan to create over 2,500 new affordable homes and bring vital public resources to Brownsville — it's exciting to see that plan put into motion through projects like this one," said HPD commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr.
The land the Glenmore Manor is being constructed on was originally owned by HPD. The city sent out request for proposals for the project in 2017. In 2018, Brisa Builders Development LLC was awarded the site.
The project is being led by Glenmore Manor Managers LLC, which involves several partners, including:
- Brisa Builders Development LLC
- African American Planning Commission Inc
- Lemle & Wolff Companies
- Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation
- We Run Brownsville
- Fusion East
- Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union (Brooklyn Coop)
"Glenmore Manor and the B'Ville HUB offer a unique opportunity for community growth in exponential ways," said Ericka Keller, managing member of Brisa Builders. “There could only be fantastic benefits to the community in reference to quality housing and economic empowerment through the various opportunities for entrepreneurship that the HUB will offer. I am so excited to commence construction on a project that will be so phenomenal."
Since 2018, project coordinators have worked to see the site rezoned, lots combined, site preparation undertaken and building design completed. In June of 2023, project coordinators acquired a $175 million construction loan, kicking the construction process into gear.
Construction of Glenmore Manor is expected to be completed by December 2025. For more information, click here.
