Transforming an Underutilized Corridor into an Economic and Urban Hub in Eastern Brooklyn

The New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) with the Urban Land Institute’s New York District Council (ULI New York) convened experts and community leaders to develop a process for large-scale and, mixed- use development surrounding the Broadway Junction subway station. Our team of experts performed technical assistance to synthesize and analyze objectives and sustainable strategies for new employment, and retail and housing opportunities in the surrounding communities.

Context

How do you promote mixed-use development to activate a neglected urban corridor for it to support city and regional sustainable development initiatives? Broadway Junction is a 20 block area characterized by elevated infrastructure and underutilized parcels of land, resulting in dangerous pedestrian intersections and poor vehicular flows. Zoning for light manufacturing discourages development, promotes vacant lots, and disincentivizes street and business activity.

Approach

We facilitated a process to discuss and document strategies for zoning, public access, infrastructure, and reuse. DCP’s Brooklyn office and panel experts toured the region and conducted a land assessment of challenges and opportunities. Panelists interviewed diverse community stakeholders and city council representatives to understand issues and dynamics for positive outcomes. Using interviews and site visits, ULI hosted an intensive charette to document information and distill insights for a long term growth plan that integrated short, mid, and long-term steps to support the work of DCP and community organizations.

Outcome

Our team developed a report and action plan with 13 recommendations, expressed in increments of time, to achieve an overarching regional vision. Through the facilitation and synthesis of plans, interviews, site visits, and discussions, we outlined clear goals to conduct appropriate re-zoning and property assemblages to connect transit and mixed-use development. In proposing these goals, we highlighted how re-zoning practices would enable the redesign of public space for improved sense of place, and would leverage existing mass transit infrastructure to support sustainable economic growth.