A
human services organization, Rising Ground, has signed a 15-year lease at Abraham Leser's 111 Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The nonprofit is relocating over 125 employees from its current location at 151 Lawrence Street and will occupy 27,000 square feet on the 19th and 20th floors. This marks a significant win for landlord Leser, who has faced issues with tenants in the past, including a rent strike and lawsuits over poor conditions.

    Rising Ground provides therapeutic treatments and support to families in New York City and Westchester County. The new space will serve as its Brooklyn hub, offering offices and services to children and adults. The building, which was renovated during the Covid pandemic, has received reports that all issues have been remediated.

    Asking rents in the 1969 building are in the upper $40s per square foot. OPEN Impact Real Estate broker Stephen Powers noted that the building's layout is well-suited for a program-facing nonprofit like Rising Ground, with multiple areas and dedicated entrances. The landlord will install a custom-designed space for the nonprofit.

    Rising Ground also has a 30,000-square-foot administrative headquarters at 1333 Broadway and 143 locations. COO Lissa Southerland said the new space will enable the organization to continue helping Brooklyn families overcome adversity.