Entire Bushwick Block to Be Redeveloped by Church-Developer Partnership

In March, Brownstoner revealed that David Cohen of Bushwick Realty Holding had purchased an entire block in Bushwick and was fixing up a long-derelict but attractive turn-of-the-last-century building on it. The developer was also revamping the former Menorah Home for the Aged and Infirm into a “nonprofit/philanthropic” with “sleeping accommodations” for 113 people.

Now YIMBY has more information about the development and what will happen to the rest of the block, which contains a large empty lot ripe for development.

Turns out the “nonprofit/philanthropic” is the former owner of the block, Metro International Church and Metro International Church, aka Christian nonprofit Metro World Child. Bushwick Realty Holding is fixing up the former nursing home for them, and giving the church community space elsewhere on the property.

The developer filed plans Wednesday for a new building at 338 Evergreen Avenue, pictured above, YIMBY reported. It will rise five stories with 180 apartments. There will be community space for Metro World Child and 115 underground parking spaces. (The new building shares the same zoning lot as the other two older buildings.)

Meanwhile, over at the long-derelict building at 889 Bushwick Avenue, plans have changed. The developer will keep the facade but add two stories. There will be a total of 46 apartments (up from 24). Both this building and the new one will make use of the 421-a tax abatement and set aside 20 percent of the units as affordable.

A renovation of the old nursing home at 871 Bushwick Avenue is proceeding as planned and is almost done. YIMBY had more information on that too: In addition to the 113 apartments we already reported it would house, the building will serve as Metro World Child’s headquarters and missionary training academy. The nonprofit plans to move in later this year, said YIMBY.

Architect Bryon Russell of Syndicate Companies is overseeing the entire project. The firm is based in Manhattan, and it has handled a wide variety of projects, including medical, residential, hospitality, and educational.

Although Metro World Child will use some of the new units for its members, the new development will bring a lot of new apartments to this previously under-utilized block — not to mention restoring the long-crumbling neo-classical building at 889 Bushwick Avenue.

180-Unit Apartment Building Planned At 338 Evergreen Avenue, Bushwick [NYY]
Brooklyn landlord plans 180-unit resi building in Bushwick [TRD]
Major Change Coming to Long-Derelict Apartment Building on Bushwick Avenue [Brownstoner]
First two photos by PropertyShark; last two photos by Cate Corcoran

The former nursing home under renovation at 871 Bushwick Avenue, above

The neo-classical building at 889 Bushwick Avenue was built in 1919 and designed by architect firm Louis Berger & Co.