5 Minutes With The Vital Brookdale Team
Vital Brookdale, Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing Development Finalist
Catherine Levenson, Senior Development Project Manager, MDG Design + Construction
Vital Brookdale Photo Credit: Pavel Bendov/ArchExplorer | https://www.pavelbendov.com/
Who has had the greatest influence on your career and what was the best advice he or she gave you?
The principals of MDG. I started my career as an attorney, working in real estate transactions in Los Angeles, and then as a financial consultant for affordable housing developers in New York. I initially met Michael Rooney nearly nine years ago as our client in my consulting role at Forsyth Street Advisors. It is a dream come true to have found my way back to MDG and to have now been able to work for Mike, Matthew Rooney and Nicola DeAcetis for over five years. I admire Mike, Matt and Nic for their extreme dedication to the cause of developing affordable housing. They lead by example, work harder than anyone, and implement innovative strategies to continue to grow MDG and its impact on our communities. Through our various partnerships with housing authorities, or other for-profit/non-profit partners, we view the residents as our ultimate clients, and wish to provide all of our residents with a beautiful home and tools for their success.
As a ULI NY Awards nominee, what makes you most proud of your project?
Vital Brookdale is not only a gorgeous building with cutting edge sustainability measures, but it has completely transformed an underutilized vacant corner of the city and has been a catalyst for growth in many residents’ lives. I am fortunate to have been involved since the inception of the project, submitting our response to New York State Homes and Community Renewal in July 2018, our award later in 2018, and closing on our construction financing in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. It is so rewarding to now see 160 new families settled in and enjoying their new homes and our various indoor/outdoor amenity spaces. I am most proud of the many positive outcomes in the lives of our new residents. 36 units at Vital Brookdale are set aside for youth aging out of foster care and intellectual or developmentally disabled individuals. These residents are supported by The New York Foundling, also a partner in the ownership of the project. Many of these residents are living independently for the first time and thriving in their new homes.
What is your favorite off the beaten path New York location or activity?
I will travel anywhere in the city for a great meal – there is such an amazing concentration of cultures to experience and enjoy! In addition, it is less off the beaten path, but I frequent as many Broadway/off-Broadway plays as humanly possible. The excitement of the theater scene here is unparalleled to anywhere in the world.