Alafia

As part of Empire State Development’s Vital Brooklyn initiative and in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, SCAPE designed over six acres of open space for Alafia—a planned mixed-used development on the site of the former Brooklyn Developmental Center across from the Shirley Chisholm State Park in East New York, Brooklyn.

Adjacent to Betts Creek and Jamaica Bay, the site abuts a coastal ecosystem of marshlands and maritime groves. Reflecting Vital Brooklyn’s mission to create spaces for holistic wellness in underserved Central Brooklyn neighborhoods, SCAPE designed spaces for active and passive recreation—including a playground, sports court, and dog park—as well as a community farm, drawing on the agricultural history of Kings County. A fitness loop circumnavigates the public park at the core of the development, connecting buildings across the Commons. A ‘Community Creek’ path bridges into a demonstration garden, which will operate alongside an on-site Meals on Wheels service.

Once completed, Alafia will bring over 2,400 affordable apartments to the neighborhood, including units for the formerly homeless, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and seniors. The project broke ground in December 2022.

Learn more:

• Read the official press release and remarks from the groundbreaking ceremony with Governor Kathy Hochul (2022).