Vital Brookdale is an exemplary model of community-based housing plus healthcare. It is the first project in New York State’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative, a program designed to improve Central Brooklyn’s low-income residents’ access to health, wellness, and housing. The new two-building Passive House development is located in the Brownsville neighborhood, adjacent to Brookdale Hospital. The design and programming of the building set a new benchmark for high-quality, sustainable, health-focused, affordable housing mixed-use developments.

The low-carbon development is Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) + 2015 certified, an international standard of building for maximized energy efficiency. The project includes a 100kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system, a series of green roofs and plantings, high-performance mechanical systems, insulation, and windows, LED lighting, low-flow water fixtures, and several other energy efficient measures to ensure the comfort and affordability for residents as well as sustainability of the building.

The residential portion of the development is comprised of 160 units for residents with a wide range of incomes. 36 supportive units have been designated by The New York Foundling for youth aging out of foster care and individuals with developmental disabilities.

Vital Brookdale provides amenities that promote wellness and create safe spaces for its residents and the larger community. Tenants have access to a terrace, landscaped courtyards, a dog run, a play area, and passive recreation and seating areas. Additional amenities include a  community room, game room, library/co-working space, fitness room, laundry room, and a bike storage room. The design of Vital Brookdale provides visual and physical connections between active and passive outdoor spaces, the interior common areas, and many of the units.

The community space on the ground floor will include a job training space and a fresh food program, run by The New York Foundling, which will be integrated with the outdoor gardening beds on-site. Dattner Architects is also designing the Ambulatory Care Facility, which will be operated by Brookdale Hospital. The project will be an exemplary model for transforming the lives of low-income housing residents and set the standard for new environmentally friendly and health-focused affordable housing developments.