The biggest affordable housing job in East New York just hit two milestones at once.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Gotham Organization, the Christian Cultural Center and Monadnock Development cut the ribbon Oct. 15 on the first phase of Innovative Urban Village, 385 permanently affordable apartments on the church's 10.5-acre campus in Brooklyn, according to the governor's office. The same day, they marked the topping out of the next phase, which will add 453 affordable homes and a child care facility.
When it's done, the campus is planned for nearly 2,000 permanently affordable homes across 10 buildings, plus child care, workforce development, a performing arts center, neighborhood retail, new streets and about three acres of publicly accessible open space.
"Today, 385 homes are opening their doors in East New York, and construction is moving forward on hundreds more," Mamdani said. "Innovative Urban Village shows what we can accomplish when we build housing alongside the resources families need to thrive."
Hochul called it a milestone that will let generations of New Yorkers live and flourish. "With today's announcement, we are not just cutting the ribbon on a beautiful new building. We are answering a prayer for hundreds of New Yorkers," Hochul said.
What's open now
The roughly $270 million Phase 1A serves households earning 30% to 80% of area median income. Of the 385 apartments, 94 are reserved for households eligible for on-site support services, including people who have experienced homelessness and survivors of domestic violence. The phase also includes about 17,000 square feet of retail and commercial space focused on fresh food, health care, pharmacy and dining.
The mayor's office announcement put the Phase 1A count at 386 homes. The state's figure of 385 permanently affordable apartments is used here.
Phase 1A was designed by Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) and SLCE Architects. It has all-electric heating and cooling, solar panels, green roofs with drought-resistant plants, EV charging, low-flow fixtures, LED lighting and Energy Star appliances.
Financing includes federal low-income housing tax credits from New York State Homes and Community Renewal expected to generate more than $115 million in equity, plus more than $47 million in state housing subsidy. Goldman Sachs' Urban Investment Group and the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development also put money in. The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative is funding operations for the supportive apartments.
The next phase
Phase 1B, now topped out, includes 453 apartments, about 12,600 square feet of community space intended for child care, 10,250 square feet of retail and commercial space and a playground. JPMorgan Chase, the New York City Housing Development Corporation, Red Stone Equity Partners and HPD are backing it.
The project's website says Phase 1B construction began in April 2025 and is expected to wrap up in July 2027. A 2022 Housing Development Corporation resolution lists Monadnock Construction as the general contractor for Phase 1B, and City Council Member Chris Banks thanked "the team at Monadnock Construction" in the state's announcement. That 2022 document planned 454 units, close to the 453 announced now.
The Christian Cultural Center picked Gotham as its development partner in 2018 after a competitive request for proposals. The partners spent five years working with residents and city leaders, and the project got full land-use approval in 2022.
"With Phase 1B now topped out, we are also celebrating the momentum behind the next 453 homes and child care facilities that will continue bringing the broader Innovative Urban Village vision to life," said Bryan Kelly, Gotham's president.
The Rev. A.R. Bernard, the church's founder and senior pastor, said the project "grew from a belief that housing should be connected to the full range of resources people and families need to thrive."
Why it matters for Contractors
Innovative Urban Village is a long-term pipeline. Phase 1A is done, Phase 1B is topped out with interior, MEP and finish work ahead through mid-2027, and more buildings are planned on the campus to reach nearly 2,000 homes. All-electric systems, solar, green roofs and EV charging are standard on this job, so electrical, mechanical, roofing and envelope contractors with that experience will be in demand. Subcontractors should keep an eye on how the later phases are financed and when they start. For contractors who work on New York City affordable housing, few sites will offer this much steady work over the next decade.