Downtown Brooklyn Partnership releases statement on funding for transformative Brooklyn Strand project

August 05, 2019

Regina Myer, President of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, released the following statement following the Governor’s selection of six projects for the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award:

“We applaud Governor Cuomo, Lieutenant Governor Hochul, and the Regional Economic Development Council for committing to invest in these projects that will improve the public realm and re-connect our neighborhoods. Five years ago, we started working on a plan for the Brooklyn Strand and this investment marks a major milestone in turning that vision into a reality. Walkability and green space are essential to the continued growth of the area and these planned improvements will provide long-overdue connections from Downtown Brooklyn to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. We look forward to working with Borough President Adams, the Dumbo Improvement District, Brooklyn Navy Yard, the City, and community stakeholders on advancing this critical project.”

Of the $10 million allocated for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award, $7.4M will go to projects identified in the Brooklyn Strand Urban Design Action Plan (2016), including $5.6M to improve streetscape and pedestrian safety along Tillary, Navy, and St. Edwards Streets crossings, $1.2M for upgrades to Commodore Barry Park to improve access and modernize play spaces, and a $600K public art and placemaking grant for the creation of innovative art installations throughout the district.

In 2014, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership began work on a plan for the Brooklyn Strand - a re-imagining of the public realm that would better serve local communities and cultivate economic opportunities for all of Brooklyn. Read more about the Brooklyn Strand here.

The State’s report, DRI Strategic Investment Plan: Downtown Brooklyn, also identifies twelve “Non-DRI Funded Priority Projects,” the majority of which are key public space transformations from the Brooklyn Strand, including the redevelopment of Old Fulton Street into a green boulevard, connecting Downtown Brooklyn to the waterfront, and providing a safer and more welcoming gateway to Brooklyn.