Downtown Brooklyn Partnership unveils plan to transform public realm over next decade
The plan includes a series of innovative design, infrastructure and biodiversity solutions aimed at strengthening Downtown Brooklyn’s vibrancy and economy
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP) unveiled on Tuesday the Downtown Brooklyn Public Realm Plan, which puts forth a series of transformative measures that will take Downtown Brooklyn from a traditional central business district geared to car-oriented uses, to a citywide leader in reclaiming streets for greater pedestrian use and creating public spaces that prioritize people and the environment. The specific reforms stem from DBP’s broader vision for the neighborhood, unveiled in 2019, as well as lessons learned in the last year. With an emphasis on green spaces, the plan proposes planting 1,000 new trees, implementing permanent shared streets, and creating an Adams Street greenway that connects DOT’s dedicated bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge to an extensive Brooklyn bicycle network.
Created by DBP with design firms Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG Architects) and WXY architecture + urban design (WXY), and in close collaboration with NYC DOT, NYC Parks, and a 50+ member steering committee including local resident associations, cultural organizations, educational institutions, businesses, property owners, and houses of worship, the plan calls for the overhaul of key public spaces to provide engaging, accessible outdoor areas for respite, wellness and recreation; expanding the network of shared streets into a core network for safer pedestrian and cyclist use; planting 1,000 new trees to create a greener and more sustainable downtown; transforming Adams Street into a multimodal greenway that builds upon DOT’s implementation of protected bike lanes on the Brooklyn Bridge; and finally, reimagining the Fulton/Livingston bus network to create a more streamlined experience for both transit users and pedestrians sharing the space.
“The pandemic has underscored the need to follow through on our public realm vision for a downtown that prioritizes people over cars and quality green spaces,” said Regina Myer, President of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. “It has also shown that City agencies are capable of responding swiftly and strategically when necessary. This plan positions Downtown Brooklyn as a model for converting outdated infrastructure that no longer serves its constituents, and we are moving forward with our partners at the City to make our vision a reality.”