East Williamsburg DRI kicks off with a tour of the neighborhood.
This month we officially kicked-off the East Williamsburg Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), a community-led planning process that will guide $20 million in capital investments throughout the neighborhood.
To begin the work, we joined representatives from the NY Department of State, the Office of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, the Graham Avenue BID, the Grand Street BID, and other local stakeholders for a neighborhood tour. What stood out immediately was the number of layers that coexist within a relatively small area. East Williamsburg is home to active commercial corridors, including two BIDs; industrial businesses and manufacturing jobs; mid-20th century infrastructural behemoths like the BQE; longstanding affordable housing communities; and a remarkable network of civic and community organizations that have spent years advancing plans and advocating for investment. The neighborhood has also been shaped by generations of Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Italian residents, alongside newer immigrant communities and recent arrivals who continue to contribute to its evolving identity.
Several themes have emerged during our early engagement. Residents spoke about the need for more welcoming public spaces for everyone but especially youth, stronger commercial corridors that retain more foot traffic, safer pedestrian routes, and more cultural and recreational opportunities that reflect the neighborhood’s diverse communities. Questions about open space, mobility, affordability, economic opportunity, and overall quality of life will all be part of the conversation as the DRI process gets underway.
Over the coming months, the Local Planning Committee and broader public will work together to develop a shared vision for East Williamsburg and identify projects that can have a lasting impact on the neighborhood's future. The first Local Planning Committee meeting will take place on September 16, followed by a public workshop on September 23. If you live, work, own a business, or spend time in East Williamsburg, we hope you'll join us.
MUD Workshop is honored to work with the NY Department of State and be supported by our partners BJH Advisors, OFTN, and Sherpa Construction Consulting.
Learn more, follow project updates, and find opportunities to participate at eastwilliamsburgdri.com.