Broadway Junction development with 1,000 affordable units moves ahead after Council approval
All images courtesy of WXY Studio, unless noted otherwise
A major redevelopment planned for a two-acre site surrounding the Broadway Junction transit hub in East New York advanced this month. The Council approved plans to build Herkimer-Williams, a four-building complex with up to 1,000 affordable homes, retail, community facilities, and open space. Developed by Totem, the mixed-use project has been shaped by nearly three years of public outreach, including over 100 meetings with residents and stakeholders.
“This vote by the City Council marks a historic milestone not just for Herkimer-Williams, but for the future of East New York,” Vivian Liao, co-founder and principal of Totem, said. “From day one, our goal was to build a project that truly reflects the aspirations of this community.”
“This approval is the result of over five years of dialogue and more than 100 meetings with residents and stakeholders. We are incredibly grateful to the City, Council Member Nurse, the Borough President, and all our local partners for trusting us to deliver a development that brings equity, opportunity, and lasting growth to the neighborhood.”
Located at the intersection of seven neighborhoods, Broadway Junction is one of the city’s busiest transit hubs, served by five subway lines, six bus routes, and the Long Island Rail Road. Despite its connectivity, the area lacks affordable housing and community amenities, creating a prime opportunity for community-driven development.
The most recent iteration of the Herkimer-Williams plan, released in May, followed an intensive period of community engagement that began after Totem first presented its preliminary proposal at a public town hall in early 2022.
Since then, the updated plan has increased the number of affordable units from 600 to 1,000, added 25,000 square feet of public open space, and incorporated up to 85,000 square feet of community facility space intended for use by institutions such as a local college or university.
To make sure families have room to grow, 65 percent of the units will be two or more bedrooms. More than half of the units will be reserved for residents earning 50 percent of the area median income or less, equivalent to roughly $73,000 for a family of three, according to Gothamist.
As part of the revised plan, Totem reduced the amount of commercial office space from 750,000 square feet to 440,000 square feet while preserving 100,000 square feet of light industrial space. The layout of 114,000 square feet of retail space was also modified to accommodate more “neighborhood-scale tenants,” as 6sqft previously reported.
Council Member Sandy Nurse said her office helped secure a $1 million pledge from the developer to support anti-displacement efforts, including connecting tenants and homeowners with legal services and other anti-displacement organizations.
Construction will begin next year and take place in phases over 10 years.
Herkimer-Williams is part of a broader effort to revitalize the area surrounding Broadway Junction. While the neighborhood was rezoned in 2016 to allow for more housing, the area immediately surrounding the subway station was excluded from those changes.
In May 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced a $500 million investment to overhaul the Broadway Junction hub, including accessibility upgrades, two new public plazas, and safety improvements.
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