Mayor Eric Adams made a big announcement on Tuesday, as he unveiled a comprehensive plan that would make the Jewel Streets neighborhood, which includes portions of Brooklyn and Queens, a more secure, resilient, and reasonably priced place to live. This project is worth $146 million and will build the foundation for up to 5,000 new houses while providing long-overdue improvements in housing, roadway safety, and drainage.
Tackling Flooding and Safety Issues
Jewel Streets is frequently referred to as “The Hole.” This is because of their low elevation. This has caused the residents to have to deal with dangerous streets, deteriorating infrastructure, and a lot of flooding over the years.
To help the area get rid of the reliance on septic systems, this new plan calls for a stormwater pump station, new sanitary sewers, and an extensive drainage system.
The plan will also line the rebuilt streets with walkways, trees, and safety features.
We will also see the Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Protection, and Department of Design and Construction build bluebelt ponds, which will naturally store and filter rainfall.
Residents will also see the DOT installing bus priority lanes and traffic-calming measures, especially in the Linden Boulevard area, which happens to be a Vision Zero corridor.
Building Affordable Housing and Community Spaces
Along with redeveloping 17 acres of city-owned land for an additional 1,400 affordable and mixed-income units, the city will rezone the Jewel Streets region to permit the construction of 3,600 new houses. New retail establishments, park spaces, and community facilities are also planned.
“This plan invests nearly $150 million in this neighborhood to create a safer, more affordable Jewel Streets with new sewers to address flooding, street upgrades to protect pedestrians and bikers, and plans for thousands of new homes,” Adams said.
Years of Community Collaboration
The news comes after over two years of community participation, which started in 2023 and included meetings, seminars, and neighborhood visits. Residents have been involved in shaping everything from housing priority to street design, and local organizations say the plan reflects their long-standing pleas for investment.
Leaders in the community praised the initiative as a “turning point” for the neighborhood, demonstrating that when local government agencies pay attention, citizens’ opinions can lead to substantive policy change.
Public hearings are anticipated to start by the end of 2025, and rezoning certification is anticipated in 2026, according to city authorities. According to the Adams administration, the Jewel Streets Neighborhood Plan will be put into action right away.
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