Groundbreaking for New Senior Residence in Brooklyn
On September 19, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and various City agencies celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Gail P. Duke Senior Residence. This $143 million development will provide 141 units of affordable, sustainable apartments for low-income seniors, along with supportive services, in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Expected to be completed by mid-2026, federal funding for the development includes 141 project-based vouchers from 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 NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development 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.
The project will incorporate sustainability features like all‐electric heating, cooling, and hot water systems. To enhance safety, health, and comfort for residents, the Gail P. Duke Senior Residence will follow Passive House sustainable design standards as well as Enterprise Green Communities certification standards, among sustainability programs. It will also incorporate resiliency measures like back‐up generator power.
Located at 350 Livonia Avenue, the development 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 center will offer daily hot meals prepared on-site, educational events, fitness classes, and senior case management services, promoting an active healthy lifestyle.
“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.”