Marcus Garvey Village is a bold 1970s New York State Urban Development Corporation residential complex that introduced low-rise, high-density garden-style apartments as an alternative to postwar tower-in-a-park affordable housing. In 2013, the architect and owner undertook a renovation and energy retrofit of the 99-building, 625-unit complex, including rooftop photovoltaic panels and fuel cells. Central to the project was an effort to develop new identity and placemaking elements as well as community investments, including a renovated youth center and a new half-acre urban farm. In 2016, the architect designed a master plan of the area identifying opportunities for new mid-rise buildings that would introduce more affordable housing, community facilities, and a strong commercial corridor.

Marcus Garvey Extension, Phase I, completed in 2022, realizes this vision by providing two fully affordable, all-electric buildings with 174 apartments, 52 supportive housing units dedicated to families coming out of shelters, and supportive services and programming. The Extension buildings represent one of the first energy-efficient, large scale, all-electric geothermal multifamily buildings in New York City. Marcus Garvey Extension builds on the original development to create a new town center with affordable housing at its heart, strengthening the existing infrastructure and community network while employing local craftsmen, masons, and designers. The Extension’s courtyards link to the Village’s unique network of mews, creating a walkable community adjacent to the elevated Rockaway Avenue subway station.

Location: Brooklyn, New York
Developer: L+M Development Partners