Opinion: East New York, It’s Our Time To Level Up

By listening to residents and responding to their necessities we can ensure that East New York s increase creates opportunity while preserving its identity The intersection of Atlantic and East new York avenues pictured here in Photo by Adi Talwar East New York has long been a neighborhood defined by resilience It s where families have built their lives small businesses have kept communities connected and neighbors have had each other s backs Yet while other Brooklyn neighborhoods have seen new tools and investments transform their streets East New York has been left waiting Despite being home to one of New York City s busiest transit hubs Broadway Junction lacks deeply needed masses spaces job opportunities and affordable housing Our neighborhood wants to see commonsense quality-of-life investments but we have been kept waiting In the last few days leaders have started taking action investing to uplift the people who call this neighborhood home The city and MTA s million commitment to improve Broadway Junction is a step in the right direction promising better citizens spaces and station upgrades to make it more accessible and welcoming Soon NYC EDC s improvements outside the station and the new Human Tools Administration offices at Fulton will bring jobs and information to the heart of our neighborhood These changes are encouraging but they come with understandable concerns Too often financing has meant disruption displacement and broken promises That s why it s critical that East New York s future is shaped by and for the people who live here True progress means centering the voices of longtime residents and ensuring their necessities more housing safer streets stronger local businesses guide the path forward As a longtime resident of East New York who has worked in the Broadway Junction area for years I am acutely aware of the challenges our neighborhood faces East New York is rich with history heritage and spirit It s where neighbors know one another local businesses anchor our streets and families have built their lives for generations But too often when new improvement comes to neighborhoods like ours it ignores what makes these communities special But there s a better way one that strengthens communities rather than displacing them That means thoughtful progress to create local jobs invest in shared spaces and prioritize deeply affordable housing to ensure stability We ve seen signs of this approach taking shape The Herkimer-Williams project which aims to transform the concrete lots around Broadway Junction has taken attempts in the right direction Totem the rise unit analyzed past studies of Broadway Junction and held over touchpoints with the local district to incorporate such feedback into a proposal While the initial design already reflected years of neighborhood visioning Totem then spent another two years engaging directly with residents area leaders and local stakeholders to shape a revised plan one that reflects the local evolving desires for permanently affordable housing expanded job opportunities and increased society space Totem s blueprint includes affordable housing retail supportive services group spaces and room for local businesses a holistic mix aimed at boosting social connections stimulating the business activity and meeting long-neglected necessities It s a practical and grassroots approach that speaks to the hopes of those who ve lived and worked here for generations While we still have work ahead this kind of engagement shows how developers can and should build with the locality rather than for it By listening to residents and responding to their requirements we can ensure that East New York s upsurge creates opportunity while preserving its identity Our future depends on advancement that reflects our voices In choosing negotiation over confrontation we re that much more likely to achieve a collective vision for Broadway Junction Our locality s strength has consistently come from its people and together we can make sure that strength guides East New York s future Bill Wilkins is the executive director of the Local Maturation Corporation of East New York The post Opinion East New York It s Our Time To Level Up appeared first on City Limits