NYCEDC, Council Member Nurse Announce Major Progress Across East New York Industrial Business Zone and Broadway Junction Station Complex

Revitalization of East New York IBZ Underway with Release of Multi-Site RFP, Completed Renovation and Lease-Up of NYCEDC’s Industrial Building, and Activation of Vacant Lot with Local Recycling Organization Sure We Can

Public Realm Improvements at Broadway Junction Advance with Release of Streetscape and Gateway Plaza RFPs

BROOKLYN, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Council Member Sandy Nurse today announced a series of progress updates as part of its commitment to improve the Broadway Junction station complex and the East New York Industrial Business Zone (IBZ) by delivering vibrant public space, creating family-sustaining jobs, and unlocking economic growth. Over the past two and half years, NYCEDC has engaged with the community to solicit their ideas and aspirations for these investments in the East New York IBZ and Broadway Junction, through walking tours, information and listening sessions, an online and in person survey, and community visioning workshops.

This work builds upon Mayor Adams’ 2023 public investment announcement, where alongside the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), $500 million was committed for accessibility upgrades to the Broadway Junction station complex and additional investment to activate underutilized public spaces around the subway complex, improve street safety, and create new open space. As well as a recent $2 million local investment by Council Member Nurse to improve public safety infrastructure within the IBZ, addressing a longstanding priority for business leaders. Approximately 100,000 commuters pass through this station every day, making it the third busiest station in Brooklyn, and this administration is committed to investing in the area’s economic development potential and create quality of life improvements for residents and visitors alike.

“No matter your zip code, working-class families should have access to good-paying jobs, feel safe in their neighborhoods, and enjoy vibrant, open public spaces. East New York is no exception,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “From the first year of our administration, we saw East New York as a neighborhood with endless possibility and potential. Thanks to a cross-agency collaboration and our strong partnership with the state, we are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to bring the best jobs and public spaces to East New York. The neighborhoods of tomorrow are being built today—and nowhere is that more evident than in East New York.”

“We are fulfilling our commitment to the East New York and Broadway Junction communities by fostering inclusive growth and creating new economic opportunities for local residents,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “Through the revitalization of public spaces and the improvement of infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for a vibrant community where families can thrive, while ensuring that long-overdue progress reaches neighborhoods that have been historically underserved.”

“East Brooklyn deserves good jobs, safe streets, and bright, welcoming public spaces. And that is what NYCEDC will deliver,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “We are taking major steps forward in the transformation of East New York into the thriving hub where families can live, work, and play that residents have long asked for.”

“Since 2019, I have joined community groups at symposiums, workshops, meetings, and rallies calling for the long overdue investments owed to East New York and the Industrial Business Zone,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse. “Now as a Council Member, I am focused on implementing a shared vision of a green industrial zone where East New York residents can take part, and more importantly lead in the green economy. Whether it is allocating $2.5 million in targeted investment or leading direct local task forces, I am committed to making the ENY IBZ a destination for the green industrial economy in New York City.”

Local Job Creation and Expansion

NYCEDC has advanced a series of leasing opportunities on public sites to drive economic growth and create more space for new business development across the IBZ, this includes:

● Releasing a multi-site request for proposals (RFP) for two East New York IBZ sites.
   ◦ The first site is an approximately 51,000-square foot paved lot, at 116 Williams Avenue, which includes an approximately 81,000 gross square foot 4-story plus basement 1920s school building.
   ◦ The second is a 19,000 square foot paved lot, at 173-191 Sackman Street, available for activation through job-generating or green economy uses.
   ◦ The RFP also includes a Community Priorities Document that summarizes the community feedback heard over the last two years on desired uses and priorities for activating these sites in the IBZ. RFP respondents are encouraged to incorporate the communities' priorities into their proposals.
● Completing a $9 million renovation of the 30,000 square foot East New York Industrial Building, at 171-201 Powell Street, managed by NYCEDC.
● Entering into lease agreements with the Industrial Building’s final two tenants, Lambo Mechanical and Centsible House, both small M/WBE businesses in construction trades and energy efficiency, that are committed to local workforce development in East Brooklyn and will bring over 30 new jobs to the IBZ over the next six years.
   ◦ In September of 2023, Council Member Nurse and NYCEDC hosted a “Doing Business in East New York” event in the newly-renovated East New York industrial building, where dozens of legacy East New York and sustainable businesses learned about the building and other real estate opportunities in the IBZ.
● Coordinating with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), to clean up and license a long-fallow 3,500 square foot vacant lot to Sure We Can, to activate the lot with a women-run recyclables-redemption facility and green community space and adding to the existing recycling ecosystem in the area.
● The multi-site RFP, license to Sure We Can, and the final tenants at the Industrial Building all demonstrate significant progress in the utilization of public sites to drive economic development, M/WBE job expansion, and further the city’s green economy ecosystem.

Public Realm Upgrades to Broadway Junction

At the nearby Broadway Junction Station Complex, NYCEDC has made significant progress towards its 2023 commitments to transform the public realm around the station with a $110 million city investment and $20 million federal grant through the RAISE program. Public realm projects aim to create a safer and more welcoming area around Broadway Junction, and could include improvements to lighting, redesign of intersections, repaving of sidewalks and roadways, new street trees and right-of-way planting, and wayfinding. This includes:

● Releasing an RFP for the design of a new gateway plaza at the station entrance to create a half-acre of new public open space. Submissions are open until February 27th, 2025.
   ◦ To create space for the plaza, the current NYPD Transit Bureau District 33 station will be relocated to a new facility nearby.
● Release of an RFP for the design of two streetscape projects around the station – located along Van Sinderen Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street and along Broadway between Truxton Street and Jamaica Avenue.
● Selecting design teams for both the streetscapes and Gateway Plaza projects is expected by Summer 2025 with construction anticipated to start in 2028.

Workforce Development

To complement the ongoing real estate and public realm improvements in East New York, NYCEDC is working with city agencies to build the area’s workforce and develop an employment hub in Brooklyn. This includes:

● Releasing an RFP to identify an operator to establish a workforce development fund for East Brooklyn. The fund will expand the suite of local workforce programs that connect jobseekers to employment opportunities in legacy industrial and emerging green economy industries. The RFP’s evaluation process is currently underway, and NYCEDC expects to distribute awards to selected respondents in the second quarter of 2025.
● Phase one of the Adams’ administration’s “City Agencies Revitalizing the Economy” (CARE) strategy—located at 2440 Fulton Street, currently under development, will deliver the area’s largest-ever commercial building, with the New York City Department of Social Services serving as the anchor tenant.
● Co-hosting job fairs with Council Member Nurse for the Broadway Junction public realm work, along with other City and State agencies.
● Council Member Nurse holding separate community job fairs with trade unions, green industries and schools in East New York.

Public realm improvements surrounding Broadway Junction were a key initiative in Mayor Adams’ and New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s “New” New York action plan, “Making New York Work for Everyone,” which identified the area as an emerging jobs hub.

“The upgrades coming to the East New York IBZ and Broadway Junction will ensure it is an enduring hub for high-paying, industrial job opportunities. As manufacturing opportunities dwindle in Brooklyn, it's critical we double down on industrial zones like the East New York IBZ that are a lifeline for thousands of working-class families,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Thank you to the EDC for pursuing infrastructure that will support 21st century, green economy jobs.”

“The progress being made in East New York exemplifies our commitment to invigorating employment hubs across the five boroughs,” said “New” New York Executive Director B.J Jones. “Families deserve these continued investments in new open space, more accessible transit, and expanded work opportunities.”

“We are excited to advance transformational public spaces at one of the major transit hubs in Brooklyn, an area that thousands of New Yorkers walk through daily” said Ya-Ting Liu, Chief Public Realm Officer. “The strong partnerships with our city agencies and the MTA will allow us to continue to build on the momentum and realize new and improved spaces to Broadway Junction and East New York.”

“New York City is full of unique and vibrant communities, and it is imperative that they have all the necessary resources to ensure they can remain strong and resilient—East Brooklyn being no exception,” said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “We are proud to partner with NYCEDC to advance the revitalization plans for East New York and help do our part to deliver transformative change to this neighborhood.”

“The Local Development Corporation of East New York (LDCENY) and the East Brooklyn Business Improvement District (EBBID) have worked in conjunction with NYCEDC for the past 45 years to transform the area,” said Bill Wilkins, Executive Director, LDCENY & EBBID. “Collectively, we have created and revitalized the East New York Industrial Business Zone. Our mutual efforts have produced a vibrant industrial zone. The release of this RFP is a major opportunity to advance our tireless efforts in sustaining local industrial development and bring new opportunities for growth in East New York. Thus, building on a legacy and tradition of industrial development.”

“The improvements to the Broadway Junction area are necessary and welcomed by Community Board 16,” said Genese T. Morgan, Chairperson Brooklyn Community Board 16. “We know from our participation in the early planning efforts that these enhancements are happening as a result of community advocacy and coordination with the elected officials; and federal, state and local government. We look forward to the complete implementation of the projects and a better neighborhood experience for our local residents.”

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.