Gilbane Development, in partnership with Blue Sea Development, Artspace, and the City and State of New York, is proud to announce the financing of the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments (BACA).
Located at 366 Rockaway Avenue, (BACA) will deliver nearly 263,000 square feet of residential space and a 28,000-square-foot cultural arts center that will serve as a vibrant and inclusive community hub. With 283 new affordable rental apartments, BACA will offer a mix of studios to three-bedroom apartments, affordable to households earning between 30% and 70% of the Area Median Income (AMI), including dedicated units for formerly homeless individuals.
Rising on a vacant city-owned lot awarded for development through a competitive New York City Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) RFP process, BACA exemplifies the city’s “Brownsville Plan,” which aims to transform the community by pairing deeply affordable housing with opportunities for cultural expression and community connection. The financing includes nearly $100 million from the City of New York. At the heart of the cultural arts center is a 3,440-square-foot multi-purpose performance, rehearsal, and studio space for community arts groups.
“Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments is a powerful expression of our commitment to equitable development through design, collaboration, and community,” said Yarojin Robinson, Senior Vice President, Affordable & Mixed-Income Housing, Gilbane Development. “This project goes beyond housing—it’s a cultural and residential anchor that will uplift and inspire Brownsville for years to come. We’re proud to partner with Blue Sea Development and Artspace to bring this vision to life—made possible in no small part thanks to the vital financial support from both the City and the State.”
“It means a great deal to all of us at Blue Sea Development and Gilbane Development to be part of a project that treats cultural infrastructure and affordable housing not as separate needs, but as shared pillars of community life,” said Jacob Bluestone, Blue Sea Development Company. “When you pair affordable housing with dedicated cultural spaces to perform, practice, and gather, you create more than a place to live—you create a place to thrive.”
“Artspace is honored to support the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments as a limited partner, helping steward the commercial spaces where community and culture will flourish. Through master leasing, we’re working to create a stable framework that helps local partners remain rooted and active in the neighborhood. This project reflects our commitment to making space—literally and figuratively—for the artists and organizations who help communities thrive,” said Will Law, President of Artspace.
“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,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Projects like this that deliver affordable homes and help cultivate community are at the heart of our administration’s work. From creating record amounts of affordable housing two years in a row to passing historic zoning reform to build tens of thousands of new homes across all five boroughs, we are proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history.”
“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. 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,” said New York City Housing Preservation and Development Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments will deliver 283 affordable homes alongside a new cultural hub, reminding us why we must invest not just in buildings, but in people. When we create space for creativity and expression, we strengthen our neighborhoods and open doors for every New Yorker to feel seen, discover their passions, and feel truly at home. We thank our partners for making this bold and beautiful vision a reality.”
“The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments exemplifies how affordable housing and cultural investments can be combined to strengthen communities,” said New York City Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin. “HDC is proud to support the financing of this development, which will bring 283 affordable homes and lasting benefits to the residents of Brownsville.”
“Arts and culture are the building blocks of safe, vibrant, and connected communities,” said New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “With the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments, we’re creating affordable housing and planting deep roots for cultural expression and community pride right in the heart of the neighborhood. Thanks to a tremendous investment from the Adams administration, this project is a testament to what’s possible when a city prioritizes the well-being of its people, equity, and culture. It affirms that every community deserves access to the arts and that Brownsville’s artistic voices matter. This project gives local creatives the space to thrive and inspire, while opening the doors for the whole community to experience, participate in, and be uplifted by the arts.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments represent the kind of community-centered development that strengthens neighborhoods while generating and expanding opportunities. As this innovative project reaches a crucial milestone, we are proud to support this new cultural destination that will provide essential affordable housing for Brownsville families.”
Susanne DesRoches, Vice President of Clean and Resilient Buildings, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said, “The Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments embodies the goal of NYSERDA’s Building Cleaner Communities and Buildings of Excellence competitions by developing clean, modern living spaces that feature the latest energy efficient and clean heating and cooling technology. Congratulations to the team on taking this monumental step towards providing Brownsville residents with healthy, comfortable homes while supporting the transformation of the community as a whole.”
“The Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments will be an important new community resource, bringing much needed affordable housing and valuable cultural programming to Brownsville. We’re pleased to partner with Gilbane and Blue Sea Development in designing this project to meet the highest environmental standards while strengthening the social and cultural fabric of the neighborhood,” said Ariel Aufgang, AIA, Principal, Aufgang Architects.
“The future Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments will provide much-needed affordable housing and serve as a vibrant cultural hub. Gilbane is proud to help bring this vision of affordable, creative community living to life and we look forward to constructing this model, energy-efficient project,” said Raquel Diaz, Vice President and New York City Business Leader, Gilbane Building.
Designed as an all-electric building, BACA targets PHIUS (Passive House Institute US) 2021 CORE, LEED Platinum, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Multifamily New Construction Program, EPA’s Indoor airPlus, and Fitwel certifications, and has been recognized by NYSERDA as part of its Buildings of Excellence and Building Cleaner Communities Competitions .
With construction starting in July 2025 and completion expected in December 2027, BACA represents a transformative investment in the social and cultural fabric of the Brownsville neighborhood. By integrating deeply affordable housing with dynamic arts programming, the project fosters a sense of place where creativity, equity, and resilience can flourish.
Gilbane Development, Blue Sea Development, and Artspace, as joint venture development partners, along with Gilbane Building as general contractor and Aufgang as architect, remain committed to offering Brownsville residents not just a roof over their heads, but opportunities to participate in and shape the cultural life of their neighborhood for generations to come.
