Brownsville will see a boost in affordable housing and culture in the coming years, according to city officials.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments (BACA) project, located on a city-owned site at 366 Rockaway Ave., will create 283 new affordable rental apartments available to households earning between 30% and 70% of the area median income, including a mix of studios to three-bedroom apartments, as well as dedicated units for formerly homeless individuals.
The building also includes a 28,000-square-foot cultural arts center, with a 3,440 square-foot multi-purpose performance, rehearsal and studio space for community arts groups.
“New Yorkers need affordable homes and vibrant community spaces. This dynamic project in the heart of Brownsville will deliver both. It will give more New Yorkers an affordable place to live, a welcoming place to express themselves, and a quality place to spend time together,” Adams said in a statement.
BACA is expected to cost $254 million, with the city contributing nearly $100 million in subsidies. Construction on the all-electric building is expected to start in July 2025 and be completed around December 2027.
Gilbane Development, Blue Sea Development and Artspace Projects, Inc. will serve as joint venture development partners; Gilbane Building will serve as general contractor; and Aufgang Architects will serve as architect.
“BACA is more than a meaningful investment in quality, affordable housing — it’s a powerful example of what a holistic response to community needs can look like," said Housing Preservation & Development Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. "It stands apart as a commitment to creating accessible space for the performing and visual arts, a safe and vibrant place to celebrate our cultural diversity, and a catalyst for building real connections that bring out the best in our communities."
