New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction has begun on the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments (BACA), a $254 million project that will bring 283 affordable homes and a 28,000-square-foot cultural hub to Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood.
The mixed-use development, located at 366 Rockaway Ave., is scheduled for completion in December 2027. Empire State Development (ESD) is contributing $5.5 million toward the project, which will deliver affordable homes for households earning between 30% and 70% of Area Median Income, along with new space for arts and community programming.
The Brownsville Arts Center will house performance and rehearsal space, studios, and flexible gathering areas designed to expand access to the arts and support local cultural organizations. The facility is planned as an all-electric, Passive House and LEED Platinum–certified building, with a goal of achieving net-zero energy use.
“This project ensures that local artists and cultural organizations have a permanent home while also delivering hundreds of affordable apartments to the community,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “By pairing cultural space with affordable housing, we are reinforcing Brownsville as a community where people can live, create, and thrive.”
BACA is being developed through a joint venture between Gilbane Development, Blue Sea Development, and Artspace Projects, Inc., following a competitive request for proposals process led by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Gilbane Building Company will serve as general contractor, with Aufgang Architects designing the project.
“The Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments will be so much more than a home—it will be a thriving hub for people to gather for performances, for students to learn about the arts, and for local cultural organizations to grow,” said Yarojin Robinson, Senior Vice President of Affordable & Mixed-Income Housing at Gilbane Development.
BACA will be supported by a coalition of partners including Artspace, BRIC, Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn Music School, Purelements, and the Youth Design Center, which will provide programming ranging from arts education to performances and cultural events.
