Avery Hall Investments is planning a new 18-storey mixed-use project at 1550 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn's Crown Heights district. A corresponding application was filed with the New York City Department of Buildings on Thursday. The Brooklyn-based developer's undertaking concerns an undeveloped plot of land originally earmarked for a luxury hotel.
The plot is situated two blocks east of the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden at the northern tip of Prospect Park. The plans envisage predominantly residential development with an area of approximately 173,184 square feet at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Bedford Avenue. Of the total 250 residential units, 75 are designated as affordable housing.
The application describes an entrance for the residential area along Eastern Parkway, as well as separate entrances for retail and service uses along Bedford Avenue. Brian Ezra, co-founder of Avery Hall, submitted the zoning application, which aims for zoning changes. These are intended to allow for mixed residential and commercial use and to establish a mandatory inclusionary housing area for affordable housing.
These new construction plans represent a reversal from the original use of the property as a hotel. In 2019, permits for a hotel build were granted, but the project was never realised. Avery Hall had acquired the 19,200 square foot undeveloped plot in August 2025 for $10.1 million. The previous owner, Yoel Goldman, had filed for bankruptcy for the site earlier that year, after the hotel foundations had already been laid, as reported by The Real Deal.
Avery Hall's current housing plans for 1550 Bedford Avenue are consistent with the company's previous projects in the borough. These include the 133-unit mixed-use development at 544 Carroll Street in Gowanus and the One Boerum Place residential tower in Downtown Brooklyn. A spokesperson for Avery Hall did not respond to a request for comment. Avery Hall Investments has established itself as a prominent developer in Brooklyn, pursuing a clear strategy with projects focused on mixed-use and the creation of affordable housing.
