Tuesday's event brought a sizable crowd of students, faculty, administrators, local activists, designers, and politicians to City Tech to explore all the ways Brooklyn's downtown is evolving and what challenges need to be addressed to improve the neighborhood as it grows.
Ryan Grew from the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership presented that latest work on the Brooklyn Strand. Caroline Samponaro from Transportation Alternatives made a passionate plea for improved streets and public space. Mike Lydon from Street Plans presented the latest work on the streetscape redesign for Jay Street. And Jessica Dailey from Curbed NY reviewed the significant shift away from office development to residential development in Downtown Brooklyn and the need to reconsider the zoning changes of 2004. I took the audience through a timeline of development changes to better understand how previous generations impacted the neighborhood in significant ways.
Making opening remarks to kick off the event was New York Council Member Stephen Levin, who emphasized the importance of safer streets, noting his vote earlier that day to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph in New York City.
Prof. Shepard, Eric McClure and I are very pleased that this event brought together this diverse group of experts who helped set a broad context for a deep discussion of the challenges but also great potential for this important urban quarter of New York City.
New York City Council Member Stephen Levin making his opening remarks at the symposium.