Brooklyn, NY RXR, real estate owner, operator and developer, broke ground on its new, all-electric residential development project. Located at 89 Dekalb Ave., the 30-story, 324-unit residential tower will designate 98 units of affordable apartments for middle-income households, and feature 15,000 s/f of interior and exterior amenity space. The residential high-rise will be among RXR’s most sustainable projects, being one of the first to be fully electric-powered, and marks RXR’s fourth building in the borough.

Developed on LIU Brooklyn’s campus, 89 Dekalb will deliver nearly 55,000 s/f of academic and office space to be used by LIU faculty and students. RXR will provide three levels of the residential tower, equipped with separate entrances and lobbies, for LIU to expand its educational resources in a sought-after neighborhood. RXR delivered an athletic field and nearly 18,000 s/f of flex space for LIU at The Willoughby, located around the corner to 89 Dekalb. Upon completion in 2025, 89 Dekalb will bring the total number of new units from RXR in the borough to approximately 1,500. 

Designed by Perkins-Eastman, 89 Dekalb will feature sustainable design features including the building being fully electric, a smart glass façade system and electric vehicle charging capability in the residential parking facility. The building will also include 15,000 s/f of interior and exterior amenity space. Residents will have access to a 24-hour concierge service, co-working areas, indoor and covered outdoor fitness center, and outdoor terrace space. 

“We are thrilled to break ground today on our fourth residential building in the Brooklyn market and celebrate a strong long-standing partnership with Long Island University, demonstrating how such a partnership can unlock long-term value for educational institutions and deliver high-quality development for stakeholder communities,” said Rebecca D’Eloia, executive vice president, project executive for development at RXR. “In the months ahead, we will develop a building that will be both a world-class, fully amenitized residence for Brooklyn’s growing community and a critical expansion for LIU. As a fully electric mixed-use building, 89 Dekalb will be prepared to meet the needs of residents, and the surrounding neighborhood, today.”

“Residential projects such as 89 Dekalb are desperately needed -- not only to meet the housing needs of our community but to also set a new standard that positions our borough and city at the forefront of sustainable development,” said Regina Myer, president of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. “With housing that will be affordable to middle-income families and dedicated space for Long Island University, all located in a fully electric tower, 89 Dekalb will help support the households and workforce that enable our neighborhood to thrive. We are excited to welcome this innovative project to the neighborhood.”

“When Long Island University sought out a partner to expand our Brooklyn campus, the RXR team stood out because they shared our motivation to create something incredible for the borough as a whole,” said Dr. Kimberly Cline, president of Long Island University. “We wanted to make sure our building would bring lasting value to the local community and to the thousands of students attending Long Island University from around the world each year. The educational space at 89 Dekalb will not only expand our campus but will take our nationally ranked pharmacy school to a whole new level, unlocking new space to scale LIU Brooklyn’s groundbreaking research and innovation acceleration.”