It was back in the 1960s when the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation broke ground to provide community resources to people of color.

However, as the neighborhood changed, so did the organization.

After Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017, it decided it was time for a change. Its five-year plan includes a programming shakeup, especially for people of color.

"The idea is to really focus on jobs, focus on resources that help people understand what net worth is and build that focus on arts and culture and focus on community engagement,” says Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation President/CEO Colvin Grannum.

The 270,000-square foot space, which includes offices, retail, culture and public space, is looking to change its exterior with help from renowned architect David Adjaye. The organization says the original building design wasn't inviting to the public. 

“Part of the reason that people don’t know what we do is design of the facilities, for example the Billie Holiday Theatre is here, but the way our facade is designed, it’s very difficult for people to know that a theater is there,” says Grannum.

Another key element of the plan is that restoration wants input from the public on how the new building should look.

"What they like about the plaza, what they don’t like about the plaza, what they would like to see the plaza do in the future,” says Grannum.
  
The community development corporation hopes to have renderings by June, but it has already started implementing many of its new programs.