Land Trust Plans 'Liberation Center' in East New York

A two-story industrial building at 161 Jamaica Avenue has served many manufacturing and commercial uses over more than 120 years, including wagon painting, radio coil manufacturing, shirt making, industrial door production, and cabinet building. The building will be repurposed as a community center and small business hub amid major changes in East New York. The East New York Community Land Trust is in contract to purchase the property for $2.3 million from a developer who bought it three years earlier for $1.3 million. The land trust plans to raise $2.6 million for closing costs and immediate repairs, with closing scheduled for early June. The project is intended to support community benefit and counter speculative development pressures.

"The two-story industrial building at 161 Jamaica Avenue has had many uses over its 120-plus-year history. It housed a wagon painting business, a radio coil manufacturer, and a shirt making factory. It's been the headquarters for The American Appliances and Machinery Manufacturing Co. and a place where industrial doors were made. Most recently, cabinets were built downstairs while birthday, graduation, and other parties happened upstairs."

"Now, with major changes under way in the surrounding East New York area, the warehouse will get new life as a community center and small business hub. If all goes to plan, it will be owned by the East New York Community Land Trust and managed and run for the benefit of the community. The land trust is in contract to purchase the building for $2.3 million from a developer who bought it three years ago for $1.3 million."

"Santos and the team would know: They've been searching for a building like this and running the numbers on real estate prices in the neighborhood. Now, he said, the team is "planting our flag." "It gives us the ability to say, while all these changes are coming, we're here and we're here to fight for the community. You can come in, our doors are open, and we're here to fight back on speculative interests.""

"ENYCLT made a down payment on the 9,500-square-foot warehouse, which the land trust is calling the East Brooklyn Liberation Center. The group is still fundraising and seeking no- and low-interest loans with hopes of raising $2.6 million to include closing costs and immediate repairs. The closing is set for early June."

Read at Brownstoner