A vacant park lot of East New York's megachurch, the Christian Cultural Center, will be converted into a sustainable, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-income development with 2,100 affordable units, community facilities and services, as well as retail space.
The project, a partnership with real estate developer Gotham Organization, was announced by CCC's Reverend A. R. Bernard on Monday.
"At this critical moment for East New York and this city, we are committed to uplifting our community and are blessed with the real estate to be able to make a significant impact," said Bernard. "Our vision is to make this site a model for sustainable urban development, showing how a mixed-income community can grow sustainably, phased over time, with the right mix of support services, education, cultural institutions and shared public spaces."
The development will also include senior housing and a new performing arts center. Community facilities and services will bring 24-hour childcare, a fresh food grocery store, vocational training services, walk-in medical services, a senior center, recreational athletic space and more than two acres of public open spaces to the neighborhood. In addition, a shuttle service will be provided to connect residents to the L and 3 trains.
The project's master plan is designed by architect Vishaan Chakrabarti of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism.
"When we traditionally think about infrastructure, it's transportation and utilities," said Chakrabarti. "Today, we know that for a community to succeed it needs access to a broader infrastructure of opportunity — open space, education, health care, child care, social opportunities and culture. Each of these things is considered in the plan that we have prepared with Gotham to advance Rev. Bernard's vision for a sustainable and equitable community."
Construction will take place over a decade and will not begin until mid-2020.
