Developers, elected officials break ground in Bushwick on $75M affordable housing

‘It took a village, and we have the village’

April 4, 2024 Special to BROOKLYN SPACE

The groundbreaking at 1601 DeKalb Ave. Photo courtesy of Camber Property Group

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BUSHWICK — It took a village to make a village, and it happened at 1601 DeKalb Ave. Developers Camber Property Group and RiseBoro Community Partnership co-hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a $75 million affordable development featuring 127 units of new housing in Bushwick.

Camber and RiseBoro were joined by numerous elected officials and community leaders at the groundbreaking celebration, including Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, City Council Member Sandy Nurse, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr., New York City Housing Development Corporation Senior Vice President Lauren Connors and former City Council Member Rafael Espinal.

1601 DeKalb Avenue went through a lengthy rezoning process to convert what was previously a manufacturing-zoned vacant lot to a designation suitable for housing. During this rezoning, which was completed in 2018, Camber and RiseBoro collaborated closely with local elected officials, Brooklyn Community Board #4, as well as community stakeholders to achieve a 100 percent affordable project.

The development team closed on the project in December 2023. Construction at 1601 DeKalb Avenue is expected to be completed in December 2025. The building is designed by Aufgang Architects. The general contractor is Fifth Avenue Builders.

“Our city faces a housing crisis, and projects like 1601 DeKalb Avenue are critical to solving that issue by providing affordable homes for those New Yorkers who need them the most,” said Rick Gropper, Principal at Camber Property Group. “Bushwick is a wonderful community, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. We look forward to working with our partners RiseBoro, local elected officials, and the community as a whole to ensure that 1601 DeKalb Avenue is a project that all of Brooklyn can be proud of.”