BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — Marcy Houses will finally get a community center after a 20-year wait, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.
The public housing development is slated to receive the new space after funding was allocated from the Mayor’s Office, de Blasio said at a town hall in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Thursday.
“I know for many years, people in the community of the Marcy Houses have been trying to get a community center to help make that a better place to live, a safer place to life,” he said.
“A place where everyone can be engaged, particularly our youth could have more opportunities to positive experiences.”
Councilman Robert Cornegy, who represents the area, “relentlessly fought” for the center, the mayor added, but there was $1 million needed to make it happen.
“I’m here to announce there is no longer $1 million missing, and we will fully fund the community center at the Marcy Houses.”
Cornegy’s office allocated $5 million in capital funding over the past two years, the councilman said, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams contributed $1 million as well.
The final commitment from the mayor’s office allows the project to come to fruition.
“We’re excited about the opportunity,” Cornegy said, adding that the community is looking to have a combination of a youth and senior center.
“Both of these services are central and have been missed for two decades.”
The center will replace an abandoned police station near Marcy Avenue and Ellery Street, according to the councilman.
Cornegy hopes construction will start in the fall, he said, and is pushing for Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise contractors in the development.
Residents at the Marcy Houses previously said a center was a welcome idea and was “desperately needed” to give elderly tenants and kids more opportunities.
According to New York City Housing Authority spokeswoman Crystal Walker, the new space would include youth programming.
“We look forward to working with our partners in government to make this a success,” Walker said.
