Marcy Houses Celebrates Opening of New Community Center

A new community center has been dedicated at NYCHA’s Marcy Houses, creating a safe activity space for youth and adults that will bring educational and cultural programming to the neighborhood.  

City officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, and City Council Member Robert Cornegy, Jr., marked the opening on November 6 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the development in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Also in attendance was actor-comedian Tracy Morgan, who grew up across the street from Marcy at NYCHA’s Tompkins Houses and toured the new $14-million center with community leaders.  

The 3,200-square-foot community center, which was constructed on the site of an abandoned NYCHA Police Service Area precinct, also features a 3,200-square-foot exterior deck, two offices, two activity rooms, and one culinary room. 

“NYCHA’s community centers are the bedrock of our developments, providing indispensable youth, senior, and social services for our residents,” NYCHA Chair & CEO Greg Russ said.  

Mayor de Blasio said that the new center provides “crucial opportunities for both young people and adults to succeed.” A groundbreaking for the building was held in August 2018, when a then-11-year-old resident said she was mostly looking forward to having a place to dance with her friends. 

“Marcy Houses has a proud history of working with NYCHA, local community partners, and elected officials to develop neighborhood resources for our children and families,” Marcy Houses Resident Association President Naomi Colon said. “We are excited to continue that tradition through this community center and are grateful to the many people who made this project a reality.” 

Among the various services offered at the center will be an NYC Department of Youth & Community Development Cornerstone program run by the nonprofit Grand Street Settlement. With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, the group plans to meet with Marcy residents to select and develop socially distanced activities that will target the specific needs of the neighborhood. Cornerstone programs are featured at 94 NYCHA community centers across the five boroughs, providing academic support, life skills, and health and recreation activities for youth and adults.  

One of the center’s activity rooms allows for multi-use gathering and community engagement, while the other is equipped with computer stations for training and classes. The building was designed with energy-efficient systems, including LED lighting and appliances, and upgraded plumbing.   

Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office