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Broadway Junction Reimagined: City Unveils Plan to Transform East NY Hub

The plan seeks to improve transit access, boost local economic development, create more neighborhood amenities and open spaces.
Broadway Junction, BK Reader
Rendering by WXY Architecture & Urban Design

The New York City Economic Development Corporation unveiled on Thursday a proposal to reimagine Broadway Junction as a major transit hub in East Brooklyn

Presented as a preliminary vision document that was commissioned by Councilmember Rafael L. Espinal and Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, the proposal focuses on five main aspects to improve Broadway Junction: transit access and equity; inclusive growth; economic and workforce development; active places and neighborhood amenities; and public realm and open space.

The 25-acre hub is home to five subway lines, six bus routes and the Long Island Rail Road, and sits at the intersection of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Bushwick, Cypress Hills, East New York and Ocean Hill. The hub also serves as a critical gateway to the nearby East New York Industrial Business Zone which consists of over 100 local industrial businesses.

"Broadway Junction is an area that has been overutilized and underinvested in for decades," said Espinal. "Through the East New York Neighborhood Plan, I made clear to the administration that we must better study the area to identify potential investments and ways to deliver the quality jobs, services and public spaces our community deserves. The community-driven process memorialized in this document lays a critical foundation for the city to make the necessary investments to realize this vision."

A workgroup consisting of elected officials, community board members, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and other community stakeholders has met over the last year to produce the new vision document which is part of the 2016 East New York Neighborhood Plan.

The proposal outlines five strategies to guide the transformation.

  1. Transit access and equity: Improve the daily experience for all commuters using all transit stations in Broadway Junction.
  2. Inclusive growth: Ensure that existing residents and businesses benefit from any future changes and development in the Broadway Junction area.
  3. Economic and workforce development: Grow Broadway Junction into a major jobs center and expand access to training and career opportunities.
  4. Active places and neighborhood amenities: Make Broadway Junction an active, mixed-use district anchored by the transit stations.
  5. Public realm and open space: Improve and activate the streets, sidewalks and open spaces to promote a sense of place and safely connect to surrounding neighborhoods.

"I am proud of the efforts of the Broadway Junction Working Group, all of whom are passionate to ensure that investments are driven by the needs of our neighbors," said Adams. "I am committed to working closely with community and borough-wide stakeholders into the next phase of work, as well as Councilmember Espinal and city agencies, in order to make this vision a reality."

The proposal builds on approximately $267 million of funding allocated to the area under the East New York Neighborhood Plan. Other investments include the complete renovation of Callahan Kelly Playground, the reconstruction of Atlantic Avenue, the renovation and creation of a new community center at 121 Pennsylvania Avenue, streetscape improvements and gut renovation of an industrial asset in the East New York IBZ, and new broadband to the ENY IBZ and residential communities.

As a next step, NYCEDC, city officials and agencies are working to develop a strategy to implement this vision, and will continue to seek feedback from residents, workers, business owners and commuters to help shape Broadway Junction's future, officials said.

You can find the complete Vision Document here.




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