Tredway, an affordable and mixed-income real estate developer focused on building and preserving high-quality, high-opportunity housing, and ELH Mgmt. LLC celebrated the completion of a long-overdue, extensive renovation of Greene Clermont Houses, a senior housing community at 80 Greene Ave. in Fort Greene, on Oct. 8.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held alongside residents and New York City Housing Preservation and Development Deputy Commissioner Kim Darga.
The seven-story building, which includes 97 one-bedroom units, is part of a 193-unit portfolio in Fort Greene that Tredway and ELH LLC acquired in 2024. The $12 million renovation marked the property’s first major upgrade since it opened in 1982.
The kitchens now feature stainless steel Energy Star refrigerators, ranges and microwaves, along with custom shaker-style cabinets, subway tile backsplashes and quartz stone countertops. Lighting fixtures were upgraded to energy-efficient LED models with dimmer switches. The new flooring in the living areas consists of wide oak vinyl planks, while porcelain tiles were installed in the kitchens and bathrooms. A top design priority was converting existing tubs into walk-in showers to improve safety for aging residents.
The renovation also included upgrades to the lobby, outdoor space and community room, both of which had previously been inaccessible.
The community room now includes a community kitchen, a wellness room and a nurse’s station, with a nurse on duty three days a week. A full-time resident services coordinator will assist residents with their needs, and the Jericho Project, a nationally acclaimed nonprofit, will provide social services support. Free, building-wide internet is available to all residents.
Additional improvements include fully modernized elevators and the renovation of outdoor balconies, which had also been inaccessible. Once completed, the balconies will feature benches and flower beds.
William Blodgett, founder and CEO of Tredway, told Brooklyn Paper that the property — home to low-income, longtime residents of Fort Greene — was at risk of losing its affordability status in 2028 and being converted into high-end condominiums. However, in collaboration with Council Member Crystal Hudson and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Tredway was able to secure the affordability of all 97 homes for another 40 years at 50% of the area median income.
Blodgett shared that he grew up in Chicago with humble beginnings and was bullied because he stutters. The few friends he had lived in Chicago’s public housing.
“They tore down the Chicago Housing Authority, and my friends were there on a Tuesday [and] gone the next Thursday,” Blodgett recalled. “[Fort Greene] is an area that is rapidly gentrifying, and this building and these homes were at risk of converting to high-end condos, and these folks that have called this area home for so many years would have been forced out. So I do this to help my friends.”
Blodgett, an advocate for the stuttering community and a board member of the American Institute for Stuttering, founded his company on the belief that safe, high-quality and accessible housing is a crucial catalyst for upward socioeconomic mobility — and an essential part of fostering equity in America today.
“You have 51% of Americans who are rent burdened, meaning they’re paying over 30% of their income in rent. Oftentimes, they’re paying 50% of their income in rent. That’s not sustainable,” Blodgett said. “So to provide the home, which is a foundation from which you can then grow, it’s a springboard for life.”
Council Member Crystal Hudson, whose district includes Fort Greene, said renovations like those at Greene Clermont Houses are not just about improving buildings, but also about protecting vulnerable New Yorkers and ensuring the city remains a place where people can grow older without fear of displacement.
“Every New Yorker deserves to age with dignity, stability and community. At a time when too many are being pushed out of the neighborhoods they helped build, projects like 80 Greene are essential,” said Hudson, who also chairs the Council’s Committee on Aging. “Housing like this proves what’s possible when we prioritize care, accessibility and belonging for every generation.”
Rose Wellington, who celebrated her 96th birthday on Oct. 5 and says her secret to longevity is love, has lived at Greene Clermont Houses for 25 years.
“[The renovation] is beautiful, fantastic. It feels safe,” Wellington told Brooklyn Paper.
Her daughter, Rhonda, also praised the long-overdue renovations, especially the revamped outdoor spaces and safer bathrooms.
“I thank God that it’s coming around now, and I thank God really that my mom is here to see the change,” Rhonda Wellington said.
Octavio Arias, who moved to Greene Clermont Houses two years ago, said he was grateful for the renovation.
“Everything is clean — the floor, the bathroom, the kitchen. Everything is perfect; the secretaries and the super, they help me out,” Arias told Brooklyn Paper.
Greene Clermont’s property manager, Simone Wilson, a Fort Greene native and property owner, has witnessed the gentrification of her neighborhood.
“I’m still here, still serving my community, trying to do the best I can. [The residents] are so grateful,” Wilson said. “They have a lot of programming and services that they didn’t have before.”
