Categories: New York City, Member News, Openings
11.30.2021
On the beautiful fall day of November 10th, CAMBA and Trinity Financial joined development partners, elected officials, Van Dyke Houses residents and Brownsville community members to celebrate the opening of a new affordable and supportive residence Van Dyke III. This 179 unit building includes 54 supportive housing apartments. Services are provided by CAMBA funded by NYC 15/15.
Kenan Bigby, Managing Director of Trinity Financial, kicked off the program speaking to the importance of this project for the Brownsville community, “We are bringing an array of services to the building and surrounding community, which was particularly hit by COVID. We hope these can be part of the healing process and a source of stability to help this community thrive moving forward.”
Sharon Browne, Chief Administrative Officer at CAMBA spoke to their on-site services, “CAMBA’s social services team will be on site working with residents and assisting individuals transitioning from homelessness into housing. We provide client centered services moving people from survival to stability to success.”
Assembly Member Latrice Walker addressed the importance of incorporating the community in the development process, “The people who live here in the Brownsville community had a real opportunity to have a say in what this project looked like and we hired locally. When we recognize how empowered we are, we can empower other people.”
“When I walked into Van Dyke III, I saw the services and amenities and thought: this is what we deserve in Brownsville.” said Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel, “Thank you for not giving us the bare minimum, but what would be given in luxury apartments.”
Speakers also included: Gregory Russ, NYCHA; Eric Enderlin, NYC HDC; Thomas Brown, Trinity Financial; Michael Lohr, Goldman Sachs; Richard Gerwitz, Citi Community Capital; Genese Morgan, Community Board #16; Harvey Lawrence, BMS Family Health Center; Vaughan Toney, Friends of Crown Heights Educational Centers, Inc. and Lisa Kenner, Van Dyke Resident Association.
Van Dyke IIII is situated within NYCHA’s Van Dyke Houses development and features an early childhood education center, urgent care clinic and a wellness center. Building amenities include a computer lab, fitness room, tenant lounge, community room, roof deck, children’s playroom and outdoor playground. Art by local Brownsville artists adorns indoor and outdoor community spaces.
Financing for Van Dyke III was provided by New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Goldman Sachs and Citi Community Capital.
The architects were SLCE Architects and Andrew Fredman Architect. Mega Contracting was the general contractor.
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