City representatives and project partners today celebrated the completion of a 216-unit affordable mixed use project at 326 Rockaway Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn. In addition to providing 100 percent affordable housing, the development is an all-electric Passive House that includes a rooftop solar array to offset energy use. City and state officials, as well as other stakeholders and community partners, gathered today in Brownsville to mark the completion of the building.
326 Rockaway Avenue is now home to “Brownsville, King of Love,” a 150-foot mural permanently installed on the side of the building. The work, produced by ArtBridge and Brooklyn-based artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez, celebrates Brownsville's diverse culture and notable hip-hop legacy with references to hip-hop icons such as M.O.P. and Duck Down Records. It is the largest outdoor mural in Brooklyn.
Units at 326 Rockaway include studios, one-, two-, and, three-bedroom apartments, with rents ranging from $1,095 to $2,301, and 130 of the 215 available units will serve formerly homeless young adults and their families. The building also offers residents amenities like a landscaped roof terrace and courtyard, urban farm, recreation room, extensive on-site social services, as well as benefits for the surrounding community like ground-floor retail and community facility space.
“The completion of 326 Rockaway marks one more giant step toward tackling New York’s housing crisis. By creating hundreds of new truly affordable housing opportunities and setting bold, new standards for energy efficiency, we’re helping to build a cleaner, greener, and more livable future in Brownsville for years to come. Projects like this are the difference between building developments and building communities, and I thank RiseBoro and all of our partners for helping to bring it to fruition,” said David Schwartz, co-founder and principal at Slate Property Group.
“326 Rockaway is more than just a building, it’s a promise to Brownsville that affordable and sustainable housing rooted in the community is possible. We’re proud to once again partner with Slate on a project that delivers not only deeply affordable homes and critical supportive services, but a model for what healthy, resilient neighborhoods can look like. This kind of partnership is how we move from building housing to building futures,” said Kieran Harrington, Chief Executive Officer of RiseBoro Community Partnership.
“326 Rockaway is an investment in the future of New York City’s young adults. This 216-unit development offers a fresh start for 130 young families who’ve experienced homelessness, made possible through RiseBoro’s supportive services, providing access to counseling, crisis intervention, and career and education support. I want to thank our partners for believing that supportive housing is how we move the needle on homelessness and build better tomorrows. And I also want to thank local artist Victor Quiñonez for creating a piece that not only makes this building unique but connects it to the community it was built for,” said Ahmed Tigani, Acting Commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
“326 Rockaway responds to New York City’s unprecedented housing shortage by delivering more than 200 deeply affordable homes within the Brownsville community. HDC is proud to finance developments like 326 Rockaway that provide New York’s most vulnerable residents with access to high-quality, sustainably designed housing with comprehensive amenities and social services on site,” said Eric Enderlin, President of the NYC Housing Development Corporation.
The project is Slate and RiseBoro’s second major collaboration, following the announcement of the new Baisley Pond Park Residences, New York’s first hotel-to-residential conversion under the Housing Our Neighbors With Dignity Act (HONDA). The conversion project, which will transform a large hotel near JFK airport into more than 300 permanently affordable apartments, is set to complete construction later this year.
Sustainability was a major priority for the design of 326 Rockaway Avenue. The building, designed by Aufgang Architects, is 100 percent electric and utilizes rooftop solar PV equipment. It meets Enterprise Green Communities, ensuring a rigorous level of energy efficiency while also creating comfortable indoor living spaces for residents. It has been designed to Passive House standards.
Building amenities will include a community room, recreation room, a children’s playroom, art/reading room, bicycle storage, large laundry room,yoga space, gym, and outdoor recreational areas including a roof deck and courtyard. The multidisciplinary design firm OSD has designed exterior spaces that form the heart of the shared community experience, including outdoor nature play, community farming, and social spaces.
Supportive housing services, including person-centered case management and service planning, counseling and crisis intervention, will be provided by RiseBoro’s expert staff. Residents will also have access to life skills and needs assessments, support for families’ referrals for employment and education opportunities, and opportunities for community engagement and leadership. Additionally, staff will provide mentoring and empowerment services in collaboration with RiseBoro’s education program.
The supportive housing program is funded through the NYC 15/15 Program, a New York City-funded rental assistance program that assists eligible families or individuals that are homeless or at risk of homelessness by providing an affordable apartment and supportive services to help them move toward the goal of long-term stability.
The project was financed through a combination of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, and support from the New York City Housing Development Corporation, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and The Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs Alternatives. The new homes at 326 Rockaway Avenue were also made possible through an acquisition loan from the Corporation for Supportive Housing, which was repaid at the construction loan closing.
The Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs Alternatives’ commitments in New York City have resulted in more than 60,000 majority affordable housing units, 7 million square feet of retail and commercial space, expanded healthcare and community facilities, and job creation.
“Today marks a proud and hopeful moment for the Brownsville community. The opening of this new affordable housing development at 326 Rockaway Avenue is more than just new construction — it’s an investment in our families, our future, and our fundamental right to safe, stable housing. I want to thank RiseBoro Community Partnership, Slate Property Group, the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) for their partnership and commitment to bringing this vision to life. This development stands as one of the most sustainable income-restricted properties in New York City, setting a powerful example for what equitable, forward-thinking housing can look like. I am proud to support developments that uplift our neighborhoods, and I remain committed to ensuring that every resident in District 41 has access to the quality, affordable housing they deserve,” said New York City Council Member Darlene Mealy.
“I have watched 326 Rockaway Ave. grow literally from the ground up, while observing from my office just down the street. I watched as the “King of Love” took shape, becoming Brooklyn’s largest mural. I am excited that we have reached the point where we can cut the ribbon and celebrate the incredible partnership that brought this 100% affordable 14-story building to Brownsville. This 216-unit project includes on-site social services for formerly homeless people, a component that we should all take pride in. The site at 326 Rockaway Ave. is a shining example of how public and private interests can come together to help combat the affordable housing crisis in New York. I salute everyone who stepped up to bring this project to life,” said New York State Assembly Member Latrice Walker.
“Brownsville is a neighborhood defined by resilience, culture, and a strong sense of community. Goldman Sachs’ investment in 326 Rockaway reflects our long-standing commitment to strengthening neighborhoods through investments that meet real needs, expand access to quality housing, and create lasting value,” said Asahi Pompey, Chair of the Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs.
“This beautiful, high-quality site will offer vulnerable New Yorkers the critical opportunity to stay stably housed with reliable access to wraparound and healthcare supports. We look forward to building on the city’s long-standing partnership with Riseboro to address youth homelessness and connect young, at-risk New Yorkers to the kind of supports that will help them thrive. We are grateful to our agency partners, Riseboro, and Slate for realizing this incredible project as the city continues to aggressively expand the creation of supportive housing through the NYC 15/15 pipeline,” said Alyson Zikmund, Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Supportive Housing Placements at the NYC Department of Social Services.
“Public art has the power to transform the character of our shared spaces, amplifying the voices, cultures, and histories of local communities. With King of Love, Marka27 has created more than just Brooklyn’s largest mural — he’s created a vibrant tribute to Brownsville’s cultural identity and creative legacy. This project reflects ArtBridge’s mission to bring site-specific, community-rooted art to affordable housing developments across New York City,” said Stephen Pierson, Executive Director at ArtBridge.
“Brownsville, King of Love is a call to spread love and honor our ancestors by celebrating our heritage and lifting each other as a community,” said Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez.
"This 100% affordable project brings crucially needed housing to Brownsville, providing its residents with desirable recreational and cultural amenities in a safe and comfortable all-electric Passive House building. We are pleased to have teamed with Slate and Riseboro in this important project," said Ariel Aufgang, AIA, principal of Aufgang Architects, and designer of 326 Rockaway.
“Our design for the outdoor spaces at 326 Rockaway grounds itself in historic Brooklyn landscapes to create a new and thriving supportive housing development for Brooklyn residents today. Drawing inspiration from Bed-Stuy stoops and Dutch farms, these spaces form a network of social spaces centered on play, urban farming, and habitat, thereby fostering community and a sense of place within the Brownsville neighborhood. Residents gain not only a roof over their heads but a connection to place, each other, and activities that nourish the mind, body, and spirit,” said Simon David, Founding Principal and Creative Director at OSD.
326 Rockaway Avenue at a Glance
- 216 total apartments
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- 130 supportive units for formerly homeless young adults, including those with young families
- 85 affordable apartments
- 34 units for families earning below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI)
- 51 units for families earning below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI)
- Preference for residents of Brooklyn Community Board 16
- 1 unit for a live-in superintendent
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- Studios to 3-bedroom apartments
- Total development costs: $146 million
- Size: 182,106sf
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- 4,246 sf community facility and 1,618 sf ground-floor retail
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- Architect: Aufgang Architects
- General contractor: SD Builders and Construction LLC
- Landscape architect: Office of Strategy+Design (OSD)
- Sustainability consultants: Bright Power
