What Brisa Builders does

Brisa Builders Development LLC is a Brooklyn-based, family-owned, minority/women-owned real estate firm founded in 2016 by Ericka Keller, focused exclusively on the development, construction management, and ownership representation of affordable and supportive housing in the Northeast United States. The firm operates through four service lines: affordable housing development (acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction of multifamily buildings), construction management (full-service project oversight), faith-based development (joint ventures with religious organizations that own developable urban land), and owner's representative services for faith-based and nonprofit sponsors. Brisa targets seniors aged 62+, formerly homeless individuals, youth aging out of foster care, veterans, and extremely low-income to low-income families, with units typically set aside at 30-50% of Area Median Income.

The company has built a pipeline of 4,700+ affordable housing units — 2,200 completed or under construction and 2,500 in predevelopment — through projects such as the $300 million Ebenezer Plaza (523 units, Brownsville), the $349 million NYCHA PACT redevelopment at Moore Houses and Courtlandt 152nd (684 apartments, South Bronx), Grace's Place Senior Apartments (82 units, Far Rockaway), 19-19 Cornaga Avenue (92 units, Far Rockaway), Singing Bridge Residences (105 units, Chicopee, MA), Glenmore Manor (232 units, Brownsville), and BPHN Senior Residences (89 units, East Flatbush). Its technical differentiators include Passive House design standards, Enterprise Green Communities 2020 criteria compliance (Brisa was among the first 20 developers to commit), all-electric building systems, energy recovery ventilation, and rooftop solar arrays — with the NYCHA PACT project representing the first full electrification of more than one NYCHA building.

Brisa generates revenue through development fees, construction management fees, and general contracting margins on affordable housing projects, financed through a layered capital stack of construction loans, permanent financing, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), state tax credits, and government subsidies. Its primary customers are public-sector housing agencies — NYC HPD, NYCHA, NY State HCR, and MassHousing — accessed via competitive RFP processes and faith-based community networks. The firm is led by founder/CEO Ericka Keller and Chief Housing Development Officer Nathaniel Montgomery, with a staff of 11-50, and has no disclosed venture capital or institutional investment ownership.

Name

Brisa Builders

Legal name

Brisa Builders Development LLC

Website

https://brisabuilders.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brisa Builders Development LLC is a Brooklyn-based, family-owned M/WBE firm that develops, constructs, and manages affordable and supportive housing in the Northeast US, serving government housing agencies and faith-based organizations with a 4,700+ unit pipeline across NY, MA, and ME.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Development

NAICS

New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116), Land Subdivision (23721), Residential Building Construction (2361)

SIC

Operative Builders (1531), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB), Independent Living Community Development & Construction (Senior Housing Developers) (HLADAAAH)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Supportive housing construction
• Construction management services
• Faith-based development
• Owner's representative services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Affordable Housing Development Fees: Brisa Builders Development LLC earns revenue as developer, co-developer, general contractor, and construction manager on affordable and supportive housing projects. Revenue is derived from development fees, construction management fees, and general contracting margins on affordable housing projects developed in joint venture with public agencies, faith-based organizations, and financial partners. Projects are financed through a combination of construction loans, permanent financing, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), state tax credits, and government subsidies.
2. Owner’s Representative Services: Brisa Builders serves as Owner’s Representative for faith-based and nonprofit organizations in the development of affordable housing, earning fees for representing the owner's interests in project conception, procurement, and delivery.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Brisa Builders Development LLC is a family-owned firm that develops, constructs, and provides owner's representative services for affordable and supportive housing projects in the Northeast United States. The company partners with government housing agencies, faith-based organizations, and mission-driven nonprofits to deliver new construction, rehabilitation, and mixed-use housing for seniors, formerly homeless individuals, and low-income families. Services span the full project lifecycle from acquisition and predevelopment through construction management and project closeout.

Product overview

Brisa Builders Development LLC is a family-owned construction management, development, and owner's representative firm founded in 2016 by Ericka Keller, focused exclusively on affordable and supportive housing development in the Northeast. The company operates through four core service lines: Affordable Housing Development (acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction of multi-family residential buildings), Construction Management (full-service project oversight), Faith-Based Development (partnership with religious organizations for community-focused housing), and Owner's Representative Services (managing relationships with agencies and partners). The portfolio includes major projects such as Ebenezer Plaza (523 units, $300M in Brownsville, Brooklyn), 19-19 Cornaga Avenue (92 units in Far Rockaway with PMG Affordable), Grace's Place Senior Apartments (82 units, HPD SARA program), Singing Bridge Residences (105 units in Chicopee, MA), Glenmore Manor (233 units with entrepreneurial hub), Bishop Philius and Helene Nicolas Senior Residences (89 units in East Flatbush), and NYCHA PACT projects (684 units in South Bronx). The company has completed or has under construction over 2,200 units of affordable housing with another 2,500 units in predevelopment stages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Development End-to-end development of affordable and supportive housing units in the Northeast, including acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction of multi-family residential buildings for seniors, formerly homeless individuals, low-income families, and NYCHA residents.
• Construction Management Full-service construction management for residential and mixed-use developments, overseeing project execution from pre-development through completion for affordable housing projects across the Northeast.
• Faith-Based Development Partnership development with faith-based organizations to create affordable housing and ancillary community facility spaces, leveraging the firm's decade of relationships with faith leaders, local officials, and community organizers in New York City.
• Owner's Representative Services Acting as owner's representative for development projects, advocating for project sponsors and managing relationships with city agencies, lenders, and development partners on behalf of faith-based and nonprofit organizations.
• Ebenezer Plaza 523-unit three-phased affordable housing complex in Brownsville, Brooklyn, including a 40,000 square foot House of Worship with 1,200-seat sanctuary and 21,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, with total capitalization of $300 million.
• 19-19 Cornaga Avenue 92-unit supportive and affordable housing development in the Downtown Far Rockaway Special Purpose District in Queens, delivered as a joint venture with PMG Affordable, including 60 supportive housing units and 32 MIH units and built to Passive House design standards.
• Grace's Place Senior Apartments 82-unit affordable senior housing building at 13-04 Nameoke Avenue in Far Rockaway, Queens, financed through the HPD SARA program, with 30% of units set aside for formerly homeless seniors and built to 2020 Enterprise Green Communities standards.
• Singing Bridge Residences 105-unit eight-story all-electric Passive House building in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, developed as a joint venture with Sydney Capital Group and financed through MassHousing, representing Brisa's first new construction project outside New York City.
• Glenmore Manor / B'Ville Entrepreneurial HUB 233-unit affordable housing development at 97 Glenmore Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn, including a 20,000 square foot B'Ville Entrepreneurial HUB with space for a credit union, restaurants, and businesses, won through the Brownsville Development Plan Site B RFP.
• Bishop Philius and Helene Nicolas (BPHN) Senior Residences 89-unit senior housing development at 1488 New York Avenue in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, developed as a joint venture with Evangelical Christian Crusade and including 10,575 square feet of community facility space for a senior center.
• Dr. and Lady Alfred Cockfield (DLAC) Senior Residences 83-unit senior housing development paired with a 71,000 square foot charter school in Far Rockaway, Queens, delivered as a joint venture with God's Battalion of Prayer and requiring a full Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP).
• Brunswick Adult Family Transitional Housing 72-unit transitional housing development for adult families with a veterans set-aside on land owned by Far Rockaway Cathedral in Far Rockaway, Queens, delivered as a turnkey developer project to be owned and operated by a nonprofit organization.
• Place Ste Marie 40-unit Section 8 acquisition and rehabilitation project in Lewiston, Maine, utilizing historic tax credits on a building originally constructed as 19th-century mill worker housing and delivered as a joint venture with Sydney Capital Group.
• Moore / Courtlandt 152nd - NYCHA PACT 12 684-unit redevelopment across four NYCHA buildings in the South Bronx, selected by the Moore/Courtlandt and 152nd Tenant Associations, NYCHA, and NYC HDC, and part of a $349 million PACT project for comprehensive renovations and full electrification.
• Harry T. Nance Apartments 67-unit affordable housing development with a 15% set-aside for formerly homeless veterans, delivered with Brisa Builders serving as Owner's Representative and including community facility spaces.
• Berean Apartments 107-unit affordable housing complex co-developed with the Berean Community & Family Life Center, completed in March 2014 and including classrooms, a computer lab, a fitness center, a conference room, and multipurpose space.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,200 units of affordable housing completed or under construction, plus 2,500 units in predevelopment
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Sydney Capital Group LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Sydney Capital Group LLC (Syd Cap) is Brisa's joint venture partner for the Singing Bridge Residences in Chicopee, MA (105 units, $37.3M MassHousing financing) and the Place Ste Marie project in Lewiston, ME ($10M renovation of 40 units). This marks Brisa's first projects outside of New York City.
• Brooklyn SolarWorkssupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2025Brooklyn SolarWorks designed and installed the 18.06 kW, 42-module hybrid solar canopy system at Grace's Place Senior Apartments, covering all workable roof space and enabling compliance with NYC Local Laws 92 and 94 while improving energy efficiency.
• RiseWell Community ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025RiseWell (formerly Federation of Organizations) provides on-site service coordination at Grace's Place through the 15/15 supportive housing initiative, offering case management, benefits counseling, and health resources for formerly homeless seniors. Also the nonprofit sponsor for Grace's Place social services through HRA's 15/15 award.
• Mega Contracting GroupsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2025Mega Contracting Group served as the general contractor for Grace's Place Senior Apartments (82 units) and is the general contractor for 19-19 Cornaga Avenue and other Brisa projects. Mega is a trusted delivery partner across Brisa's project portfolio.
• Cornell Pace Inc.supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2025Cornell Pace Inc. handles day-to-day property management for the NYCHA PACT projects at Moore Houses and East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue, managing approximately 684 apartments across four buildings following renovation completion. The firm has over 30 years of experience managing affordable housing in NYC.
• Mega Group DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Brisa Builders and Mega Group Development served as co-developers for the NYCHA PACT project at Moore Houses and East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue (South Bronx) — a $349 million project covering 684 units across four buildings. Mega Group also serves as general contractor for 19-19 Cornaga Avenue and Grace's Place. Brisa and Mega were selected by tenant associations, NYCHA, and NYC HDC for this redevelopment.
• Paul Castrucci ArchitectssupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2025Paul Castrucci Architects served as architect for 19-19 Cornaga Avenue (Passive House design), Grace's Place, and Singing Bridge Residences. The firm specializes in Passive House standards and sustainable design, critical to Brisa's energy-efficiency positioning.
• Ebenezer Urban Ministry Center (EUMC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024EUMC (formerly Church of God of East Flatbush) partnered with Brisa Builders, Procida Development Group, and Evergreen City on Ebenezer Plaza — a $300 million, 523-unit affordable housing complex in Brownsville, Brooklyn with 40,000 sf House of Worship and 21,000 sf commercial/retail space. EUMC provided the land and was the lead faith-based partner for this landmark project.
• PMG Affordable (Property Markets Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2020Brisa Builders and PMG Affordable formed a joint venture, Brisa Cornaga Associates LLC, for the 19-19 Cornaga Avenue project — a $35 million supportive housing development with 92 units in Far Rockaway, Queens. This was PMG's first affordable housing project in New York City and led to the launch of PMG Affordable as a division. Brisa brought local network and M/WBE certification; PMG brought national development experience and capital.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Monadnock Development: NYC affordable and supportive housing developer focused on transitional and permanent housing for vulnerable populations. Directly comparable because of its mission-driven, supportive-housing-heavy portfolio and similar reliance on HPD, HCR, and LIHTC financing for multifamily development in the outer boroughs.
• Breaking Ground: NYC nonprofit developer and operator of supportive housing for homeless and vulnerable populations, with HPD/ESSHI/SARA-financed projects. Directly comparable target population (formerly homeless, low-income) and reliance on the same supportive-housing financing programs that anchor Brisa's pipeline.
• Mega Group Development: NYC-based affordable and mixed-income housing developer and general contractor that is Brisa's co-developer on the $349M NYCHA PACT project and serves as general contractor on multiple Brisa projects. Comparable because it pursues the same HPD/NYCHA RFPs, runs the same LIHTC-financed multifamily model, and operates in the same Brooklyn/Bronx submarkets.
• PMG Affordable (Property Markets Group): NYC real estate developer that spun out PMG Affordable as a dedicated affordable housing division via its JV with Brisa on 19-19 Cornaga Avenue. Comparable because it pursues the same HPD/RFP-driven affordable and supportive housing pipeline and competes for the same LIHTC-financed deals in NYC.
• The Arker Companies: NYC-based affordable housing developer with a deep LIHTC-financed multifamily portfolio across the five boroughs. Comparable as a like-sized HPD/NYCHA RFP-driven affordable developer pursuing similar income-mix projects in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
• Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County: Nonprofit affordable housing developer serving low-income families in NYC. Comparable because it competes for similar city RFPs, relies on government subsidy and philanthropic capital, and develops affordable multifamily housing in the same outer-borough submarkets Brisa targets.
• Procida Development Group: NYC-based affordable and supportive housing developer that is Brisa's JV partner on the $300M Ebenezer Plaza project. Directly comparable as a similarly sized family/M/WBE-oriented affordable developer pursuing faith-based and HPD-financed multifamily developments across the outer boroughs.

Broad incumbents

• Phipps Houses: NYC's oldest and one of its largest not-for-profit affordable housing developers, founded by a faith-based organization (Phipps Houses Service). Comparable model (faith-rooted, mission-driven, HPD/HCR-financed multifamily) but at much greater scale and geographic reach across NYC.
• L+M Development Partners: One of NYC's largest affordable and mixed-income housing developers with a multi-thousand-unit pipeline and broad institutional relationships. Highly comparable business model (LIHTC, HPD/NYCHA RFPs, mixed-income) but materially larger scale, making it a broader incumbent rather than a like-sized peer.
• Jonathan Rose Companies: Mission-driven real estate acquisition, development, and investment firm with a national affordable and mixed-income portfolio. Comparable as a similarly mission-oriented LIHTC-financed developer with green-building expertise, though larger and more geographically diversified than Brisa.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brisa Builders