Clinton Hill Supportive Housing Will Be Replaced and Expanded

By Kirstyn Brendlen, Brooklyn Paper

A more than 100-year-old Clinton Hill building used for family supportive housing will be completely rebuilt and expanded after a Council Member Crystal Hudson allocated $1.5 million to the project.

The Emerson Davis Family Residence opened in 1996 to support adults with mental health illnesses who had lost custody of their children or were at risk of losing custody. Developed by the Institute for Community Living in partnership with the state’s Office of Mental Health, it’s the only such program in New York City.

According to ICL, the residence offers round-the-clock services including case management, counseling, parenting skills training, employment services, and tutoring. Some families are eventually able to move out into nearby apartments and continue to work with and receive support from the organization — 49 families have transitioned from the Residence into the community since 2008, and 74 percent of those families stayed together afterward.

But the four-story, 38-unit property at 161 Emerson Place is in need of significant repairs. Designed by architect Arthur Ware of James E. Ware & Sons, the red brick structure with neo-Classical details was built in 1911 as a private apartment building. In the 1940s, the nearby Pratt Institute bought it and operated it as a student dorm, according to State Historic Preservation Office documents. The Institute for Community Living acquired it in 1992.

ICL had initially planned a “gut renovation,” according to a June 2024 newsletter, but with funding from Hudson, the organization now plans to totally redevelop the property into a 12-story, 103-unit building with both supportive and affordable housing. The group explored expanding the existing building but it can’t support a vertical addition so will be demolished, State Historic Preservation Office documents detail.

“The Emerson Davis Family Residence has been a lifeline for many families in our community,” Hudson said in a statement. “By providing stable housing and comprehensive support, this program has kept families together and helped them thrive. This $1.5 million investment underscores our commitment to supporting families and addressing the mental health crisis in our city.”

The new building will include a children’s activity room, a fitness room, a teaching kitchen, and a tenant learning and work lounge. Affordable units will be available for tenants earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income, or $83,880 annually for a family of three.

Current tenants have already been relocated to nearby apartments, with construction expected to start in 2025 and wrap in 2028.

“A decade ago, I was admitted to Emerson Davis and received the treatment and support I needed to regain weekend visitation with my son, who had been removed from my care,” said Jessica, a former resident. “Soon after, we were permanently reunited and eventually moved into supportive housing. Today, my son is entering junior high school, and we are thriving thanks to the support we received. Council Member Hudson’s investment will ensure more families like mine can stay together.”

— Additional reporting by Susan De Vries

Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.

Related Stories

• Clinton Hill Nonprofit Wants Land Use Change to Construct 11-Story Building Across From Pratt
• Affordable Housing Lottery Opens for Modern Flatbush Build With $823 Units
• Affordable Housing Lottery Opens for Gowanus Canal Towers With $784 Studios

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on X and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.