Broadway Junction could be the next area of Brooklyn to be transformed by the wave of development sweeping through the borough.
A group co-chaired by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and City Councilmember Rafael Espinal has been brought together to develop a new vision for the area, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation has launched a $200,000 study to find ways to encourage economic growth at the transit hub, according to the New York Times.
Broadway Junction is one of Brooklyn’s busiest subway stations, linking six subway lines—the A, C, J, Z, M and L—across three connected stations. The hub borders Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Cypress Hills, Ocean Hill and East New York, the latter three of which recently went through a major rezoning expected to generate more than 6,000 apartments.
The possible transformation has led to mixed reactions from locals so far, with some eager to see new development arrive and others more concerned about gentrification and displacement. Julie Locke, 43, told the Times it would be better for the city to focus on bringing down crime and building more affordable housing than bringing in new projects.
“This is not a destination,” she said. “This is a very poor neighborhood—some people are lucky to have $5 to spend.”
East New York has not seen a major market rate project since the rezoning, although several developers have since filed plans for affordable projects. [NYT] – Eddie Small