The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has unveiled the 12 winners of the 2012 Building Brooklyn Awards (BBA). An 11-member panel selected the winning projects.The winners: BLDG 92, civic and institutional; Red Hook Initiative, community development; Medgar Evers College, Academic Building I, education; Restoration Plaza, open space; Dumont Green, National Grid Award for Energy Efficiency; Jane's Carousel, recreational facility; Dekalb Market, retail; Atrium House, residential-single family; Liberty Apartments, residential-affordable housing; 97 Crooke Ave., residential-supportive housing; Third + Bond, residential-low rise; and 220 Water, residential-multifamily.
In addition to recognizing these 12 projects, the Chamber will honor Michelle de la Uz, executive director, Fifth Avenue Committee, and David Von Spreckelsen, senior vice president, Toll Brothers City Living.
Michelle de la Uz has over twenty years experience in public and community service and became Executive Director of Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) in January 2004, after serving as Co-Chair of FAC's Board of Directors. Michelle oversees the organization's mission of advancing economic and social justice and comprehensive programs serving more than 5,000 low and moderate income people directly through Fifth Avenue Committee and its non housing affiliates which have combined budgets of more than $10 million, real estate assets of over $100 million and a housing development pipeline of nearly 1,000 units representing total development costs of more than $400 million.
"Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) is very honored to have been selected as the nonprofit honoree for the Chamber's 2012 Building Brooklyn Awards," said Michelle de la Uz. "FAC's work to promote affordability and sustainability through our real estate development and management is a critical aspect of our more than three decades of comprehensive community development that ensures that Brooklyn remains a vibrant, diverse and inclusive borough where people of all backgrounds can succeed. We are very proud that our real estate development efforts are a model not only for other nonprofits but for the industry as a whole."
As Senior Vice President at Toll Brothers City Living, David Von Spreckelsen oversees acquisition and development activities in the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau and Suffolk Counties in Long Island. His responsibilities include everything from identifying and acquiring sites through managing the design and construction of the buildings and ultimately to marketing and selling the residences. David is currently overseeing seven Toll Brothers City Living projects in various stages of development in Manhattan and Brooklyn. In addition to projects that have already been completed, this totals more than 1,100 condominium units and nearly $1 billion in total development cost since 2004.
"I have lived in Brooklyn since 1985 and have loved it even before it was cool to do so," said David Von Spreckelsen. "Having the opportunity now to do developments in Brooklyn that enhance its neighborhoods is very gratifying to me. And this award means a lot to me."
The 2012 Building Brooklyn Awards is scheduled for Thursday, July 12, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The Liberty Warehouse, 260 Conover Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231.
For information on this year's winners please visit http://www.ibrooklyn.com/go_brooklyn/bba2012.aspx. For information on registration and sponsorship opportunities please visit http://www.ibrooklyn.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?EventID=393 or contact Lori Raphael at (718) 875-1000 ext. 140 or
[email protected].