Camber Property Group and RiseBoro Community Partnership have closed on a $75 million deal to develop 1601 DeKalb Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Currently a vacant lot, the project will transform the space into a dual-towered 127 unit building of affordable housing.
“We are thrilled to be building in Bushwick. It’s a vibrant community with a rich history and culture, and we’re excited to be a part of its future,” said Rick Gropper, Principal at Camber Property Group. “It is incumbent on the development industry to work with communities to create new homes for the families that need them. Projects like 1601 DeKalb Avenue are critical to that goal. We look forward, along with our partner RiseBoro, to bringing new affordable homes to Bushwick and being a good neighbor to Brooklyn for decades to come.”
The site went through a lengthy rezoning process to convert the vacant lot to a designation suitable for housing. During this rezoning, Camber and RiseBoro collaborated closely with the local elected officials, Brooklyn Community Board #4 as well as community stakeholders to achieve a 100 percent affordable project. Construction at 1601 DeKalb Avenue is expected to start in January 2024 with an anticipated completion date of December 2025.
"What was once a vacant lot will now serve as permanent housing for a city that desperately needs affordable units," said Scott Short, CEO of RiseBoro Community Partnership. "In a city as large and with as many resources as ours, no New Yorker deserves to go without shelter. Thanks to our partners at Camber Property Group, we are a step closer to that ideal."
1601 DeKalb Avenue will feature 33 studios, 52 one-bedrooms, 24 two-bedrooms, and 18 three-bedroom apartments, allowing for a mix of different types of families. The building will also include on-site management and social services offices, 24/7 security and laundry facilities. The development team is expecting to start marketing all affordable units through HPD’s Housing Connect portal in mid-2025.
The project will be among the greenest new buildings in New York City. It will comply with the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria for increasing energy efficiency, decreasing carbon emissions and prioritizing community health and well-being. 1601 DeKalb’s high efficiency heating and cooling systems will be fully electric. Ample bike storage, community rooms and the open landscaped courtyard space will provide opportunities for passive and active on-site recreation.
1601 DeKalb Avenue has easy access to public transit, within half a block of the DeKalb Avenue stop on the L subway line and the B13 and B38 bus lines. The site is also easy walking distance to Maria Hernandez Park and Grover Cleveland Playground.
