Under the bright afternoon sun near the Myrtle-Wyckoff M train stop, a sense of optimism was palpable as city officials and Bushwick community leaders convened last Wednesday to announce a transformative $390 million investment aimed at tackling the neighborhood’s long-standing and debilitating flooding issues.
While New York City Deputy Mayor for Operations Meeri Joshi commenced the press conference, the event underscored the project’s anticipated impact and the community’s profound appreciation for Councilwoman Sandy Nurse’s unwavering dedication to making the upgrades a reality.
“This has got to be one of the best announcements we’re making this year,” declared Deputy Mayor Joshi “Why? Because it highlights something that we don’t think about until it goes wrong. And that is our infrastructure”.
She outlined the $390 million investment, which includes replacing three miles of sewers, a mile of iron pipes, lead pipe replacement at no cost to homeowners, and the incorporation of porous pavement to enhance water absorption.
This initiative, part of the “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan, is estimated to begin in 2029 and aims to revitalize the neighborhood’s aging infrastructure and protect residents and businesses from the devastating effects of flooding.
Bushwick, has long suffered from inadequate sewer systems, some dating back to the early 1900s. The area’s vulnerability to flooding is exacerbated by the topography of Knickerbocker Avenue, which lies lower than surrounding areas, causing stormwater to rush downhill and overwhelm the existing drainage system. This has resulted in frequent flooding, with severe incidents like those during Hurricane Ida in 2021 causing substantial damage to homes and businesses.
DEP Commissioner Aggarwala elaborated on the project’s scope, stating that it will bring “three miles of new sewers to Knickerbocker, Wilson, Central and Evergreen,” increasing sewer capacity by nearly tenfold in certain areas. “There will be parts of the sewer that will be able to handle 2 billion gallons of stormwater every day.”
The project also encompasses upgrading catch basins to prevent clogging and replacing lead service lines to ensure safer water quality. The existing 7.5-foot-diameter sewer system will be replaced with single-, double-, and triple-barrel box sewers, each measuring 10-feet by 9-feet. This will boost the system’s capacity from approximately 226 million gallons per day to around 1.9 billion gallons per day, an 857 percent increase in select areas. This substantial improvement will significantly reduce the risk of flooding across approximately 2,300 acres in Bushwick.
In addition to sewer upgrades, the project will replace almost a mile of aging cast iron water mains with new, high-capacity pipes. This will improve water pressure and reliability for thousands of residents and businesses, ensuring better access to clean water and supporting fire protection. Furthermore, privately-owned lead service lines discovered during construction will be replaced at no cost to property owners, ensuring safer drinking water for the community.
DOT Commissioner Rodriguez highlighted the collaborative approach, noting that the DOT will redesign streets to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety through Vision Zero improvements.
“For years Knickerbocker Avenue in the surrounding streets…deals with serious flooding, damaging homes and businesses, disrupting daily life and putting people at risk,” Rodriguez acknowledged.
Beyond the technical details, the press conference highlighted the community’s deep gratitude for Councilwoman Sandy Nurse’s tireless advocacy:
Councilmember Sandy Nurse acknowledged the collective effort, stating, “This is really a testament to everybody who’s been working together, elected officials, the community groups, the homeowners, the tigers, the tenants. Everybody has been working together to advocate for a lot of changes in Bushwick”
“Upgrading this infrastructure is so important for our community. And it really is a down payment on the future,” stated Councilwoman Nurse, emphasizing the significance of the investment. She also recognized the collaborative effort of elected officials, community groups, homeowners, and tenants in advocating for change in Bushwick.
Local business owner and community advocate Salvatore Polizzi, owner of Tony’s Pizza on Knickerbocker Avenue, described the announcement as a “bittersweet moment” and that the flooding has been a “nightmare” for businesses. He expressed gratitude for Council Member Nurse’s unwavering support and stated that the community is “finally getting the attention that it deserves”. “These are taxpayer dollars going to fund infrastructure upgrades, our community to better our community,” Polizzi affirmed, highlighting the importance of the investment.
“Council member nurse, you are a godsend to this community. Seriously” He emphasized that the community is “finally getting the attention that it deserves”.
The $390 million investment, secured through the “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan, signifies a turning point for Bushwick. It promises to mitigate flooding and enhance the overall quality of life, safety, and resilience of the community. While city officials presented the project’s ambitious scope, the prevailing sentiment was the community’s profound appreciation for Councilwoman Sandy Nurse’s dedication to making this essential infrastructure upgrade a reality. The improvements also align with the city’s broader efforts to enhance climate resiliency, including investments in green infrastructure and real-time flood monitoring systems.
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