Gilbane Development, in partnership with Blue Sea Development and Artspace, has officially broken ground on the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments, a $254 million mixed-use affordable housing development in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood. The project, scheduled for completion in 2027, will add 283 affordable housing units while providing vital cultural space for the local community.
The development is a joint effort with the City and State of New York, reflecting a broader commitment to expand housing access and support neighborhood revitalization. Elsewhere in New York The Willets Point Transformation project—New York City’s largest fully affordable housing development in four decades—has passed the halfway mark of Phase One, which will deliver 880 of the more than 2,500 affordable homes to also help alleviate New York’s housing crisis.
Financing and Support
The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments secured financing in late July. Nearly $100 million was contributed by the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA).
This layered financing structure, often referred to as a “capital stack,” combines public resources to ensure long-term affordability while also delivering cultural infrastructure for the neighborhood.
Housing for Low- to Moderate-Income Families
Designed by Aufgang Architects, the project at 366 Rockaway Avenue will include a mix of studio to three-bedroom apartments. These homes will be made available to households earning 30 to 70 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), with some units reserved for individuals and families previously experiencing homelessness.
The development also aims to strengthen Brownsville’s arts ecosystem. Plans include a 3,440-square-foot multi-purpose space for performances and rehearsals, along with a 28,000-square-foot cultural center that will anchor the arts community.
Part of the Brownsville Plan
The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments was first introduced in 2018 under the Brownsville Plan, a larger neighborhood initiative designed to generate over $1 billion in investment. The plan envisions the creation of more than 2,500 new affordable housing units on city-owned sites, alongside expanded cultural, economic, and community resources.
Factsheet: Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments
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Location: 366 Rockaway Avenue, Brownsville, Brooklyn
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Cost: $254 million
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Developer: Gilbane Development, Blue Sea Development, Artspace
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Architect: Aufgang Architects
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Units: 283 apartments (studios to three-bedroom)
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Affordability: 30–70% AMI; some units for formerly homeless households
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Cultural Facilities: 28,000 sq. ft. cultural center; 3,440 sq. ft. multi-purpose arts space
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Completion: Expected 2027
The project marks a major milestone for Brownsville, bringing both affordable housing and cultural opportunities to one of New York’s most historically underserved neighborhoods.
