Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) Community Center

The Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) Community Center is both an architectural and civic cornerstone for East New York—an uplifting and flexible home for programs that once occupied scattered storefronts. At the heart of the vision is Michelle Neugebauer, CHLDC’s Executive Director, whose decades of leadership transformed the organization from a modest local initiative into a community institution. Under her direction and that of Emily Van Ingen, Deputy Director, Dattner Architects’ Mia Lee designed a new purpose-driven facility that consolidates educational, recreational, social services, and economic development programs into one welcoming hub. The architecture celebrates openness and community connection: a double-height lobby and amphitheater serve as the heart of the building, encouraging informal gatherings, performances, and events. Lined with “opera boxes” and perimeter seating, the space is designed for flexibility—transforming from movie nights to public forums with ease. The community center also includes a commercial kitchen that supports workforce training and local food entrepreneurship, while classrooms, recreation spaces, and offices are designed for easy reconfiguration as community needs evolve. At Dattner Architects, Mia Lee led the programming and design process as Project Manager, working in close collaboration with Project Architect Kristy Phillips. The community center was designed concurrently with the new 14-story Passive House building in which it resides, also designed by the firm. In addition to the community center at its base, the mixed-use building provides 275 deeply affordable apartments for East New York residents. Throughout construction, Kristy worked closely with Gabrielle Lettire, Construction Superintendent, who oversaw the complex build of the passive house building and community center. They ensured that details were carefully executed to achieve excellence in both performance and design. The Community Center embodies the spirit of “Built by Women”—a project conceived, led, and realized by women dedicated to community empowerment.