Ribbon cut at new affordable housing for IMPACCT Brooklyn

On July 2, 2024, the ribbon cutting ceremony took place at a 63 unit affordable housing development designed for low-income seniors and frail elderly, at 811 Lexington Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Designed by Think! for IMPACCT Brooklyn, this long-awaited four-story building will provide rent-subsidized housing for seniors earning less than 50% of the area median income, with at least 30% of units set aside for seniors at risk of homelessness.

In addition to the residential units, which are a combination of studio and one-bedroom apartments, the 41,421 sq ft building includes program support spaces, parking, community rooms and a large 500 sq ft recreation room that opens onto a planned rooftop garden. Seating areas, a patio, and paths will enhance the experience for those accessing the garden by incorporating active design elements.

Marty and Jack attended the ribbon cutting ceremony

The design also takes care to counterpoint the building’s horizontal composition with a strong glazed vertical gesture at the main entry, which brings natural light to every elevator lobby, creating connectivity between exterior, entry, lobby and elevators, up to the community room and out to the rooftop, enhanced by natural materials and warm colors.

IMPACCT is committed to helping residents build and sustain flourishing communities in Central Brooklyn. With this in mind, Think!’s goal was to design a supportive, comfortable and compassionate environment to bring the senior population together as they ”age in place” in their community. With limited budget, the design process included selecting the simplest solutions to elements such as building structure and a repetitive but elegant window pattern in order to devote greater resources to elements that more directly affect the residents’ quality of life.

Think! is proud to have been part of a team creating uplifting, safe and community-focused residences for vulnerable seniors that enable them to stay living in a neighborhood that may have been home for decades, while reinforcing multi-generational communities.