The Public Housing Community Fund, the New York City Housing Authority, Amazon, the Kingsborough Resident Association and City Council Member Darlene Mealy unveiled a newly renovated innovation learning lab at Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights on Monday part of a broader effort to expand technology access for public housing residents.
The lab was funded through Amazon’s $500,000 commitment to the fund, which aims to establish up to 50 technology hubs across the five boroughs. The initiative is designed to improve access to digital tools that support education, workforce development, telehealth services, civic participation and creative activities.
“This new Innovation Lab unlocks opportunities for Kingsborough residents of all ages by providing access to technology and strengthening pathways to success in school and the workforce,” said Alex Zablocki, executive director of the Public Housing Community Fund.
The Kingsborough site includes eight desktop computers, 10 Chromebooks and a printer, along with new desks, chairs and conference tables. NYCHA completed additional upgrades, including painting and electrical improvements. The lab is located within a multipurpose room intended to serve as a central space for community use.
Programming and daily operations will be managed by the Kingsborough Resident Association in partnership with the Hugh Ed Gilroy Senior Center, which shares the building. The space is expected to host programs for both youth and older adults, with a focus on digital literacy and access to online resources.
“This Innovation Lab at Kingsborough Houses, along with the commitment to provide labs across the city, represents a vital step toward ensuring every NYCHA resident has the tools needed to thrive in a modern landscape,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt.
The lab is one of several planned across the city as part of a phased rollout. The fund expects to complete 10 labs in the initial phase, building on a pilot location at the Van Dyke Community Center in Brownsville that opened in October 2025.
