BROWNSVILLE — During a recent visit to Brownsville, Bishop Robert Brennan briefly traded in his mitre for a hard hat.
Bishop Brennan was in Brownsville on Sept. 19 for the groundbreaking of the Gail P. Duke Senior Residence, a 13-story, 141-unit affordable housing building at 350 Livonia Ave. sponsored by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens (CCBQ).
In addition to the 141 units, the senior residence — named after Gail P. Duke, treasurer of CCBQ’s Progress of Peoples Development Corporation — will feature a 10,000-square-foot older-adult center that will offer hot meals, education events, fitness classes, and other amenities to promote a healthy lifestyle for its tenants.
Construction of the $143.4 million building is expected to be completed in mid-2026, CCBQ officials said. Leading the project is CCBQ’s affordable housing arm, The Progress of Peoples Development Corporation.
To qualify to live in the new building, residents must be 62 or older and be below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) figure — which is considered low-income and established by the federal government each year.
According to the New York City Department of Housing, Preservation and Development (HPD), in 2024, 60% of AMI is $65,220 for a family of one. For a two-person household, it is $74,580.
The senior residence is badly needed, said Bishop Brennan, who joined elected officials and CCBQ representatives for a ceremonial groundbreaking.
“Housing in general has been a very high priority for the church in Brooklyn and Queens for many, many years, and the need is getting greater and greater,” Bishop Brennan explained, noting that the high cost of living is an important issue.
“Many of our people are being pushed out of our neighborhoods because they cannot afford the changes that are undergoing,” he added.
There is a significant housing crunch in New York City. The current vacancy rate sits at 1.4%, according to Adolfo Carrion, commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
CCBQ has built 40 apartment buildings in Brooklyn and Queens, adding more than 4,500 units to help address the city’s housing challenges, according to Tim McManus, senior vice president for CCBQ Progress of People’s Development Corporation.
Father Patrick Keating, deputy executive director of CCBQ, said the new building will provide much more than just a roof over tenant’s heads.
“The expansion of affordable senior housing is crucial in our city as it enhances seniors’ quality of life, reduces isolation, and improves their physical and mental health,” he said.
Duke, whose name will adorn the building, said she is humbled by the honor.
“It was a total surprise when I was told about it. It’s an honor. It’s a beautiful building,” she said. “It’s good to give back to the community, and the things that Catholic Charities does is just wonderful.”