Members and volunteers of a Bay Ridge nonprofit that serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities celebrated on Tuesday after securing $2 million in federal funding for renovations and upgrades to their southern Brooklyn facilities.
Congress Member Nicole Malliotakis obtained the funding for the Guild for Exceptional Children (GEC) through a Department of Housing and Urban Development grant. The funds will be used to modernize the nonprofit’s buildings near 67th Street and Third Avenue.
Since 1958, GEC has supported residents with developmental disabilities, currently assisting approximately 500 individuals with supportive services, daily programs, and workforce training. The $2 million renovation will overhaul the first floor of the building, which houses the Hope C. Morrison Day Habilitation Center, to create more community space that is wheelchair accessible, along with bathroom, floor and ceiling upgrades.
Construction is expected to take six to nine months and is earmarked to get underway in early Spring 2025. Further renovations will also include the upper floors of the building, which will be retrofitted with a new apartment and more program space for the individuals attending GEC’s day program.
Exterior work to the building is expected to include resurfacing of the roof, a new façade and surfacing in the backyard to prevent future flooding and injury.
“We know that housing for the developmental disability community is one of the biggests needs that we have in our state right now. It is so important that we work to improve and expand the housing options for the individuals like those we are standing with me today,” Malliotakis said Tuesday during a garden party at GEC’s soon-to-be-upgraded headquarters.
“The Guild for Exceptional Children has been a cornerstone of our city for decades, and they haven’t undergone any significant renovations in over 30 years,” Malliotakis continued. “They do incredible work for families in our area, and I hope this funding allows them to continue providing invaluable resources to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for years to come.”
Also speaking at the Aug. 20 announcement, GEC Executive Director and CEO Joe Riley noted that 6745 and 6751 Third Avenue were the first buildings acquired by GEC when the agency began supporting people with intellectual and development disabilities 65 years ago, and have been in use for adult day habilitation and 24-hour residential services since.
Reilly offered his appreciation to Malliotakis for helping the nonprofit secure the funding for its most significant renovation in the last 30 years.
“The renovation is sorely needed and GEC is very grateful to the Congresswoman, who has always been supportive of our mission going all the way back to when she was in the New York State Assembly,” said Reilly. “Thank you Congresswoman Malliotakis, from all of us at GEC.”
