New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced City Agencies Revitalizing the Economy (CARE), an initiative to create jobs hubs across the city by strategically locating city agency offices in key neighborhoods. The initiative launched with breaking ground on 2440 Fulton St., what will be the largest-ever commercial building in the Broadway Junction area of East New York, Brooklyn, which the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) will occupy.
“When I outlined my economic recovery blueprint last month, I spoke about not going back to the way things were before the pandemic — and that is what this strategy and this groundbreaking are all about,” Adams said . “We are building a more inclusive economy that works for all New Yorkers, in every neighborhood and every borough, and city government is leading the way.”
The new strategy leverages long-term city commercial leases to brings jobs closer to communities and catalyze new commercial development outside of traditional central business districts. The first phase is the result of a collaborative multi-agency effort between DSS, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), and developer the Leser Group. It builds on work NYCEDC began in 2017 to encourage investment in commercial markets across the city.
“With this project in East New York, we advance two critical goals — bringing city services closer to the people that we serve and catalyzing the creation of office space for local businesses,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer.
The new building at 2440 Fulton St., developed by the Leser Group and designed by Marvel Architects, will bring commercial space that will host more than 1,100 employees from DSS’ Human Resources Administration (HRA), along with private-market tenants. The new space will allow HRA to improve client experience with rapid electronic check-in systems, upgraded self-service technology, and expanded waiting areas. The new building will also offer about 80,000 square feet of private-market commercial space, including new retail space along Fulton Street, Herkimer Street and Van Sinderen Avenue.
“This project defines public-private partnership,” said Fernando Fisbein, representative, Leser Group. “It represents a true collaboration between multiple public agencies and local businesses to achieve key community goals, including connecting critical city services to the communities that access them; anchoring a commercial hub for local businesses, nonprofits and institutions and creating new energy and opportunity for the Broadway Junction neighborhood. In achieving these goals, this building will produce over 200,000 square feet of brand-new, Class-A office space for HRA and create over 100,000 square feet of office and retail space for public, private, and nonprofit organizations.”
In addition to 2440 Fulton St., NYCEDC is currently reviewing proposals for the next phases of the CARE strategy in Queens and the Bronx.
