Brooklyn, NY – The Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn and Very Reverend Patrick J. Keating, Esq., Deputy Executive Director, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, were joined by Adolfo Carrión, Jr., New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, NYC Aging Commissioner and community leaders on Thursday, September 19, 2024, for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new Catholic Charities Gail P. Duke Senior Residence. This $143.4 million development will provide 141 units of affordable sustainable apartments for low-income seniors with supportive services in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn.
The Gail P. Duke Senior Residence, expected to be completed by mid-2026, is developed by Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development (CCPOPD) Corporation. Construction financing for the building includes 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) supported by $84,715,000 in NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Tax-Exempt Bonds and syndicated by Richman Housing Resources, along with a $7,820,000 HDC second mortgage, $10,016,215 in HOME funds from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) Program and $4,500,000 in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, and $1,000,000 in NYC City Capital sponsored by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The project was also awarded a $1,000,000 grant as a model demonstration by the New York State Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Buildings of Excellence Competition. This robust financial backing is a testament to the city and state’s commitment to affordable housing for seniors in need. Federal funding includes 141 project-based vouchers with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), which will guarantee long-term affordability for residents.
“Older New Yorkers should never have to choose between a stable home and other essential needs,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “The Gail P. Duke Senior Residence is more than just housing—it’s a lifeline for older New Yorkers on fixed incomes. It will provide not only affordable, accessible homes but also a community where our older adults can thrive, with services that meet their needs and help them remain connected to the city they love.
“New housing like the Gail P. Duke Senior Residence makes it possible for Brooklyn’s older adults to age in place with dignity and affordability,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “With 141 units of affordable housing with supportive services, I was proud to provide $1 million in capital funding to this project which can provide a lifeline to our low-income seniors living in eastern Brooklyn. I look forward to working with Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens on the completion of this project and on future projects to provide the affordable housing the Brooklynites sorely need.”
“The Gail P. Duke Senior Residence project goes beyond simply providing affordable housing — it’s a promise to recognize the importance of its residents by offering them both a safe place to live and the wraparound services and supports to thrive in their communities,” said NYC Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “Thank you, Catholic Charities, for sharing our commitment to older New Yorkers and for creating this vibrant, sustainable housing opportunity for older adults. This is exactly what we need to keep moving toward a truly age-inclusive city.”
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is one of the largest providers of affordable housing in the nation and currently provides 4,567 units of affordable housing with support services for seniors, families, veterans and the formerly homeless. The proposed senior building is an integral part of Catholic Charities approach to providing intergenerational, affordable, and safe housing in Brooklyn. Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development will provide quality clean and resilient housing for older adults to comfortably age‐in‐place. Providing all‐electric heating, cooling and hot water systems, following Passive House (PHIUS) sustainable design standards, along with ENERGY STAR® Multifamily New Construction Program, EPA’s Indoor airPLUS, and Enterprise Green Communities certification standards enhances the overall safety, health and comfort of the residences. The project will utilize CDBG‐DR funds to incorporate resiliency, including back‐up generator power for cooling, sheltering in place, and other emergency needs.
Located at 350 Livonia Avenue, the Catholic Charities Gail P. Duke Senior Residence will feature a 10,000 square-foot older adult center on the ground floor with on-site supportive services provided by Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, the social services arm of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. The Older Adult Center will offer daily hot meals prepared on-site, educational events, fitness classes, and senior case management services, promoting an active healthy lifestyle.
“Gail P. Duke Senior Residence responds to the growing housing needs of older New Yorkers, while providing critical supportive services, on-site educational programming, and fitness classes,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “We look forward to working with all of our development partners involved to deliver over 140 deeply affordable senior homes to the Brownsville community.”
“Bank of America Community Development Banking is pleased to provide a construction loan and tax credit equity to help finance the construction of much-needed affordable housing for families in Brooklyn,” said Erin Galligan, Senior Vice President for Community Development Banking at Bank of America. “Gail P. Duke Senior Residence is a great example of the impact we can make to help the most vulnerable in our communities and demonstrates our continued commitment to support the communities where we work and live.”
“We would like to thank and acknowledge the hard work of our wonderful development partner, Catholic Charities Brooklyn Queens for its commitment create new apartment units for low-income seniors said Kevin Hoffman President of Richman Housing Resources LLC. “Gail P. Duke is a great example of how public-private partnerships, using federal low-income housing tax credit programs, can create and maintain housing for low-income senior in our communities.
“As our Senior community continues to age, living in an adaptive and secure environment is important,” said Gail P. Duke, Treasurer, Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation. “The amenities provided by Catholic Charities minimize the struggle of daily life. I am honored to have my name associated with such a progressive facility.”
“We at NYCHA are so pleased to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Gail P. Duke Senior Residence in Brownsville, Brooklyn,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President for Leased Housing Lakesha Miller. “The Authority is honored to have provided the project-based vouchers for 141 new units of affordable housing that will be home to low-income seniors in this vibrant neighborhood. We extend our sincere appreciation to Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, and all of our partners on this amazing project, for their dedication to building affordable housing options for New Yorkers in need.”
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “NYSERDA is proud to support Catholic Charities Gail P. Duke Senior Residence which is recognized as a model demonstration project for resilient climate-friendly design and construction as part of the Buildings of Excellence Competition. This project shows how early collaboration combined with innovation can result in the creation of healthy, comfortable and affordable places to live for aging New Yorkers.”
“Today’s groundbreaking is a significant moment for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens,” said Very Reverend Patrick J. Keating, Esq., Deputy Executive Director of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. “The new Gail P. Duke Senior Residence will add to our portfolio of over 3,000 units for seniors in need. It aims to provide Brooklyn’s growing older adult population with more affordable housing options, as well as offer seniors accessible housing and supportive services, thereby giving them a chance to live longer. The expansion of affordable senior housing is crucial in our city, as it enhances seniors’ quality of life, reduces isolation, and improves their physical and mental health.”
“For 125 years, Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens has responded to the needs of those they serve, and now, through vision and partnership, they will open 141 new units of affordable senior housing in Brownsville. At the heart of this construction project is indeed a great love of neighbor, knowing that these apartments will offer many the chance to age with dignity,” said the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn.
CCPOP secured project financing in April 2024 with all public and private sources. The construction term is anticipated to take approximately two years, followed by marketing, leasing and permanent financing conversion estimated at one year through 2027.
“As the city continues to prioritize the creation of supportive housing, projects like the Gail P. Duke Senior Residence are critical to ensure that the growing population of older New Yorkers has access to housing and specialized supportive services that will allow them to lead healthier, more fulfilling, and longer lives,” said HRA Administrator Scott French. “We are proud to play a role in this incredible project, and we look forward to seeing this important resource come to fruition and begin providing much-need affordable and permanent homes for older New Yorkers in need.”
“Our senior population is one of the most vulnerable populations, and they need to be stimulated, they need to have activities, and so this is going to be really good for them in terms of safety, longevity, and quality of life,” said Genese Morgan, Community Board 16 President.
“It’s no secret that the scarcity of affordable housing has reached crisis level in the State of New York, especially among seniors,” said Assemblywoman Latrice Walker. “That, of course, includes the community of Brownsville where I was born and raised. I congratulate Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, private, public and community partners, and everyone involved in the construction of the Gail P. Duke Senior Residence. I was happy to be there for the groundbreaking. Please count me as a resource in the effort to connect members of the community to jobs related to the project. I look forward to the ribbon-cutting in 2026.”
