Karen Brooks Hopkins

Karen Brooks Hopkins (Patrick McMullan)

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During her 15 years as director of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Ms. Brooks Hopkins made the institution a vital part of New York’s cultural firmament, helping to revitalize Downtown Brooklyn and put the borough on the international art map. Property owners in the area—and art lovers throughout the city—should be writing Ms. Hopkins, who plans to step down next year, fond farewell letters. BAM has also partnered with the city on three mixed-use development projects that will pair cultural space, market rate and affordable housing with retail and office.