Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens’ Affordable Senior Building needs comprehensive weatherization so that it can manage the increased costs of electrification

Brooklyn, NY

YEAR BUILT: 1915
HOUSING TYPE: An old monastery was converted into affordable housing for seniors in the early 2000’s 

FUEL TYPE: Natural Gas

DESIRED UPGRADES: Extensive weatherization improvements, including building envelope sealing, insulation upgrades, window replacements, roof and façade insulation, and electrical system upgrades to support building-wide electrification.

What problem was the resident having?

Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens (CCBQ) manages an affordable senior housing building that is over 110 years old. In alignment with New York City’s climate goals to reduce carbon emissions, CCBQ aims to electrify the building while completing critical health and safety improvements. Their objective is to increase energy efficiency, ensure resident comfort, and comply with local regulations such as Local Law 97.

Although there are alternative compliance pathways for affordable housing under LL97, CCBQ is choosing to act proactively rather than wait until the compliance deadline approaches. However, as a nonprofit reliant on rental subsidies, they face significant financial constraints.

Navigating the landscape of state and federal funding programs has been a major challenge, particularly since many programs are not compatible or fail to cover the full scope of costs. A key concern is that without comprehensive insulation—including roof, wall, and window upgrades—transitioning to electric heating and cooling could lead to unsustainable utility bills. Since the organization cannot pass on increased energy costs to tenants, higher electric bills could further strain the building’s limited cash flow.

Currently, the most promising option available is a forgivable loan of approximately $800,000, which would help fund partial air sealing, lead and asbestos remediation, and installation of heat pumps. While this is a critical first step, CCBQ estimates that comprehensive weatherization and insulation alone will cost between $2–3 million. This includes essential yet costly improvements like window replacement, roof insulation, and unit-level electrical rewiring to support new heat pump systems.

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Estimated cost of the problem: $2–3 million for insulation and weatherization, plus additional costs for unit-level electrical rewiring.

Was the issue resolved?

Not yet. CCBQ is continuing to explore its options. While they are open to leading the way in retrofitting historic multifamily buildings—they were among the first to install solar panels on their affordable housing stock—they must balance innovation with financial prudence. The GAP Fund could help bridge the funding shortfall, enabling CCBQ to move forward with comprehensive insulation and electrification, ensuring the project is both environmentally and financially sustainable.