There are many infrastructure projects underway or coming soon to our neighborhoods, including upgrades to Fulton Mall in Downtown Brooklyn, renovations of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the redevelopment of Brooklyn Marine Terminal on the waterfront, updates on the East River’s floating swimming pool, the construction of a new entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 1, and affordable housing.
Fulton Mall upgrades | Downtown Brooklyn
Construction has begun on Fulton Mall, which is getting an $8 million upgrade that will wrap up by fall 2025. The goal of the project is to make the shopping strip greener and more pedestrian-friendly. Fulton Street will receive new trees, bigger plant beds, and new benches. Work will only occur overnight, as not to interrupt business and traffic on this busy thoroughfare in Downtown Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum renovations | Crown Heights
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum broke ground on their major renovation project, which will be completed in winter 2025. The museum’s retaining wall from the 1970s will be reconstructed and a 20,000 square foot garden will be built. The new garden will be ADA-accessible and will include areas for exhibitions, interactive installations, and programming, as well as walking paths, seating, gathering spaces, a terrace, and of course, a vast array of native trees, plants, and shrubs.
New residential building at former site of St. Francis College | Brooklyn Heights
A new residential building is coming to Remsen Street, where St. Francis College used to be located. Rockrose Development purchased the site from St. Francis, which has relocated to Downtown Brooklyn, and work has already begun on the building’s interior. There will be 746 apartments, including 188 affordable homes. The building’s main entrance will 170 Remsen Street, and there will also be new retail spaces on Joralemon and Remsen. The project is expected to finish in June 2025.
Redevelopment of Brooklyn Marine Terminal | Columbia St. Waterfront District & Red Hook
The Brooklyn Marine Terminal was acquired by the city from the Port Authority in May, and plans have been announced to redevelop the site as a modern maritime port with other mixed-use amenities like housing, park space, and waterfront access for the public. Currently, the site is a port for container shipping, as well as where cruise ships and the NYC Ferry dock; however, two of its piers are out of commission to deterioration. The vision for a new Brooklyn Marine Terminal is still a work in progress, and the public has been invited to give their input as the site is reimagined. There is no set timeline for the project, but the public engagement process has begun, with the first community workshop on Saturday, September 28. Learn more about the Brooklyn Marine Terminal project here!
New residential tower with affordable housing and LIU academic space | Downtown Brooklyn
A 30-story all-electric residential building is coming up at 89 Dekalb in Downtown Brooklyn, which will include affordable housing and academic space for Long Island University. Developed by RXR, the building will have 324 rental apartments with 98 rent-stabilized units, as well as 55,000 square feet of space for LIU. Construction started in November of last year, but construction on the tower topped out this month. There will be electric vehicle charging stations in this sustainable building, plus co-working areas, indoor and outdoor fitness centers, a terrace, and designated entrances for LIU.
Expansion of Domino Park | Williamsburg
As a part of their development on the Williamsburg waterfront, Two Trees is creating new plazas and green spaces in Domino Park. These spaces, slated to open in early September 2024, will include an amphitheater that can accommodate more than 1,000 people for events like farmers’ markets, summer movie nights, winter ice skating, arts and cultural performances, and more. New public restrooms will also be available in the park.
New entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 1 | DUMBO
Under construction since Summer 2023, the new entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 1 is slated to open in fall 2024. The newly designed entrance will have many amenities for visitors in this very busy section of the park, including pathways for pedestrians and bikers, a new concessions stand, and restrooms. The pavilion will also provide a shaded area for park visitors to relax.
Floating pool in the East River | Pier 35 in Manhattan
Governor Hochul’s and Mayor Adams have announced Pier 35 on Mahattan’s Lower East Side as the final site for an innovative floating pool. Many sites were considered for this first-ever floating swimming pool in New York City, including the Brooklyn waterfront. Testing is beginning this month to determine the feasibility of the pool, which will filter water directly from the East River. The pool will undergo final testing for health and safety standards in summer 2025, and plans are being made to offer swim lessons, environmental education, lifeguard training programs, and more.
Updated: August 15, 2024. Main Image: Rendering of + POOL in the East River.