Alafia Phase I Opens: A Bold New Era of Affordable & Supportive Living in East New York
OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Marie T. Sullivan, Arlo Chase of S:US, OPWDD Commissioner Willow Baer, Inez and Charles Barron, HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, State Senator Roxanne Persaud, Perry Perlmutter of S:US, Lee Brathwaite of APEX, Kieran Harrington of Riseboro, Council Member Chris Banks, Dyllon Gibbs of L+M and partners, NYSERDA Director Max Joel. Photo by L+M.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 12, 2025
CONTACT:
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In the midst of New York’s Housing Crisis, Alafia Phase I Delivers 576 Affordable and Supportive Homes, Cutting-Edge Sustainability, Easy Healthcare Access, Retail Opportunities, and Vibrant Public Spaces to Transform the Spring Creek Neighborhood
Photos, renderings and video HERE
East New York, NY – Today, Services for the UnderServed (S:US), L+M Development Partners, APEX Building Company, and RiseBoro Community Partnership proudly unveiled Alafia Phase I, the first phase in a groundbreaking housing development redefining what affordable living can be. This visionary project delivers 576 new affordable and supportive homes across two stunning Passive House–certified buildings, alongside retail space and a full-service medical clinic, creating a unique model for how deeply affordable and supportive housing developments can be intentionally designed to transform the lives of its residents.
Alafia Phase I includes a striking 15-story tower and a 12-story tower with 452 supportive apartments, including dedicated homes for formerly homeless individuals and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On-site services will be provided by S:US, funded by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) and the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Phase I of the development also includes a six-story residential building offering 124 affordable apartments. The first phase of the Alafia community includes 7,800 square feet of dynamic retail space that will welcome new neighborhood-serving businesses and a spacious 15,000-square-foot medical clinic that will dramatically expand healthcare access for local residents.
These residential buildings stand as beacons of environmental innovation, powered in part by advanced geothermal and solar energy systems. Alafia Phase I doesn’t just lower energy costs; it creates transformative, healthy living environments while actively reducing emissions in a historically underserved neighborhood.
Located on a 28.5 acre site in the Spring Creek section of East New York, Alafia represents one of S:US’ most ambitious developments to date. When fully complete, this visionary, multi-phase community will encompass up to an impressive 2,400 units of affordable and supportive housing; a comprehensive health clinic; a diverse community; a commercial farm that will produce up to 180,000 pounds of fresh produce each year; approximately 31,000 SF of manufacturing space and commercial spaces; and 11.3 acres of publicly accessible green space that encourages physical activity, social connection, and long-term well-being.
“Alafia fulfills our promise to provide New Yorkers, not just with housing, but with the foundation needed to live healthier, dignified lives,” said Perry Perlmutter, President and CEO of Services for the UnderServed. “With the opening of Phase I, hundreds of individuals and families will have a safe, stable home built to the highest sustainability standards, and access to on-site healthcare and community amenities. This is what it means to build for the future.”
“Today we celebrate the opening of the first phase of Alafia, a unique community that will serve as an example for how affordable homes should be built, with sustainability driving the design from the outset,” said L+M Development Partners CEO Lisa Gomez. “We are proud to see this vision come to life and become a home for those in the community that need it most, with an eye to improving health outcomes and keeping communities together. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her leadership and to our partners for getting this project over the finish line.”
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “The first phase of Alafia delivers on the promise of the Vital Brooklyn Initiative by bringing together affordable housing, supportive services, health care, and sustainability in one thoughtfully planned community. This development reflects years of engagement with local residents and a shared vision for a healthier, more equitable East New York. We are grateful to our partners at OMH, OPWDD, One Brooklyn Health, and the entire development team for their commitment to this transformative project.”
Apex Building Group CEO Lee Brathwaite said, “Apex Building Group is proud to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Alafia’s first phase, a transformative investment in East New York Brooklyn’s future. We believe that high-quality, affordable housing and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods go hand in hand. Working side by side with all of our partners and community stakeholders, we’ve delivered affordable homes that promote a community of wellness while creating new opportunities for the families who live here today and for generations to come.”
RiseBoro Community Partnership CEO Kieran Harrington said, “At RiseBoro, we believe that a home is more than four walls — it is access to care, opportunity and community. Alafia embodies that vision. By integrating supportive services, health care, green space and sustainable design, this project offers residents the stability they deserve and creates the conditions for a thriving community. We’re proud to join our partners in bringing this transformative model to uplift East New York’s families today and for generations to come.”
One Brooklyn Health CEO Sandra Scott, MD said, “This partnership with Alafia exemplifies how health, housing, and economic opportunity can come together to build stronger, healthier communities. It’s a model for how we can reimagine public investment to create lasting change in the lives of New Yorkers.”
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “This phase of the Alafia project is providing safe, affordable homes for individuals living with mental illness along with the supportive services designed to ensure that they live and thrive in their community. The completion of this project reflects Governor Hochul’s continued support for programs like the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, which are expanding supportive housing statewide.”
New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Willow Baer said, “The transformation we have been able to achieve at the former Brooklyn Developmental Center moves New York from a time of institutionalization to the freedoms of independent living that Alafia will provide. This is a hallmark of the progress made over the last fifty years to include New Yorkers with developmental disabilities as respected and valuable members of our communities. Thank you to Governor Hochul for continuing to create these opportunities for affordable and safe housing that allows people to live with dignity and purpose.”
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “New York State is helping transform the way buildings are constructed by incentivizing the use of the latest energy efficiency and electrification technologies. NYSERDA is proud to support the all-electric Alafia Phase I affordable housing development, which provides a healthy, modern living experience for residents in Brooklyn while also contributing to the state’s equitable transition to a clean energy economy.”
State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said, “The completion of Alafia Phase 1 is a great step forward for East New York and our entire community, delivering much-needed affordable homes, essential health services, and real economic opportunity where it’s needed most. Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul and the partners who are invested in expanding access to quality housing, supporting community-driven solutions, and investing in the health and wellbeing of our residents.”
New York City Councilmember Chris Banks said, “The completion of Alafia Phase 1 is a major victory for East New York and a powerful example of what development should look like when we put a community’s needs first. For decades, this site symbolized isolation and disinvestment — but today, it represents opportunity, health, and affordability for the families who call this neighborhood home. As Council Member for the 42nd District, I am proud to see a project that brings more than 570 affordable homes, a full-service healthcare clinic, supportive housing, and green, sustainable infrastructure directly into a community that has long been overlooked. This is the kind of investment our residents deserve. We deserve housing that is dignified, deeply affordable, environmentally responsible, and built with the understanding that stability and wellness go hand in hand. Alafia reflects our shared commitment to addressing the housing crisis, expanding access to preventative healthcare, and creating a stronger, healthier future for East New York. I look forward to continuing to work with the State, the development team, and — most importantly — our community, to ensure that the next phases of this project deliver the same level of care, innovation, and equity for the people of this district.”
For more information on Services for the UnderServed, visit sus.org.
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About Services for the UnderServed (S:US)
S:US, one of the largest supportive housing developers and service providers in New York, envisions a city where everyone has a roof over their head, is healthy, productive, and can enjoy the social connections that create a life of purpose. S:US has a staff of 1,800 that provides $315 million in services. Their efforts are supported by various local, state, and federal government entities, foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Most importantly, S:US’ breadth and depth of services enable the organization to help tens of thousands of individuals live productive, healthy, fulfilled lives each year by addressing each person’s unique challenges and creating opportunities for success.
About L+M Development Partners
At L+M Development Partners, working together to build stronger communities is our mission. Our double bottom line philosophy means that we measure success not only in financial returns but also by the positive impacts we make in the communities we serve. Founded in 1984, L+M is a full-service real estate development firm that develops, invests, constructs, and manages properties with industry-leading innovation in a variety of urban markets nationwide, primarily in the New York Tristate Area. Recognized as one of the top affordable housing developers in the country, L+M and its affiliate companies are responsible for approximately $20 billion in development and investment, and combined have over 57,000 high-quality residential units in construction or that have been acquired, preserved, or completed. Please visit our website for more information: http://lmdevpartners.com. To learn more about our mission and values, go to https://lmdevpartners.com/mission-and-values/.
