East New York could play an important role in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s $41 billion plan to build or preserve 200,000 affordable units over the next ten years.
Carl Weisbrod, chairman of the City Planning Commission, wants to rezone the area to facilitate the development of thousands of residential units.
At the center of the potential rezoning is a reimagined Broadway Junction that would anchor a revitalized neighborhood, according to a city planning report. Under the plan, Broadway Junction — which has five subway lines and a Long Island Rail Road collection — would be redeveloped similarly to the Atlantic Terminal at the edge of Downtown Brooklyn.
According to the same report, much of the area’s development would occur on a 25-block span of Atlantic AvenueBetween Pennsylvania Avenue and Euclid Avenue. Currently, that stretch is dominated by auto-repair shops. After a rezoning, those would be replaced with residential, retail and office space.
“The plan for East New York offers a template for how our ambitious housing goals can be accomplished on a neighborhood level,” Weisbrod told Crain’s. “It sets out a framework for new housing and economic development along key transit corridors.” [Crain’s] — Claire Moses
