Herkimer-Williams

Opportunity for the Heart of East New York

Broadway Junction has been overlooked for decades. The land around the intersection of Herkimer Street and Williams Place presents a unique opportunity for a true community-driven development.

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SAVE THE DATE: COMMUNITY BOARD 5 HEARING

The first advisory vote in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) takes place at the local Community Board. The hearing to review the Herkimer-Williams project and gather public feedback is scheduled for TKTK. More details are available here.

WE ARE LISTENING

Over the last three years, the Totem team convened nearly 100 meetings with the community to shape the plan for Herkimer-Williams. Following the public scoping hearing in December 2023, where we introduced the preliminary plan and kicked off the environmental review process, we gathered more feedback from the Community Board, elected officials, and local residents to refine the plan even further. The result of that feedback is shown in the updated plan, which we recently filed with the city to officially start the ULURP process.  

Preliminary Plan
Updated Plan
Retail
Affordable Housing
Community Facility
Commercial Space
Industrial Space
Open Space
Preliminary PlanCommunity FeedbackUpdated Plan

Distilling recommendations from over a decade of community vision plans, the original plan submitted in December 2023 proposed:

Incorporating feedback from over 90 touchpoints with the community, Totem has revised the Herkimer-Williams proposal to reflect the stated desires and concerns of local residents:

The plan filed Spring 2025 to start the ULURP process incorporated over a year of community feedback into the following updates:

Up to 600 units of 100% affordable housing

Desire for additional affordable housing

Increased affordable housing to up to 1,000 units

Approximately 770,000 SF of commercial and industrial space

Right-sizing of commercial space

Adjusted commercial space to approximately 440,000 SF and preserved up to 100,000 SF of light industrial space

Approximately 100,000 SF for community programming

Desire for CUNY to have presence at Broadway Junction

Designated up to 85,000 SF space for institutional education anchor

Approximately 240,000 SF of retail space

Desire for retail spaces to accommodate a vibrant mix and local businesses

Adjusted retail spaces to allow for more neighborhood-scale tenants

De-mapping Herkimer Street from Williams to East New York Ave

Preserving Herkimer Street

Removed de-mapping of Herkimer Street and added pedestrian improvements

Building heights from 300 to 405 feet

Concern about building heights

Reduced building heights to 245 to 345 feet

Approximately 20,000 SF of open space

Desire for public open space and infrastructure coordination

Enabled the creation of up to 25,000 SF of new publicly accessible open space

Community Input

Affordable Housing

”As a resident, I deeply understand, and I echo the need for new affordable housing and economic opportunities for the community.”

Scoping testimony from Vicki Bergquist, Local Resident

Preserving Herkimer Street

”I also urge the applicant and DCP to explore alternatives to this demapping.”

Scoping testimony from Council Member Sandy Nurse

Public Open Space & Infrastructure Coordination

”I welcome open space at and around Broadway Junction that can complement the newly-renovated Callahan-Kelly Playground and the forthcoming public plazas.”

Scoping testimony from Council Member Sandy Nurse

Right-sizing of Commercial Space

”At this moment there is a lack of modern, flexible, and affordable space for small industrial businesses and industrial entrepreneurs in the East New York area.”

 Darryl Hollon, Business Outreach Center Network

Retail Spaces

”As a resident, one of my primary concerns is the lack of community amenities in the neighborhood...My neighbors and I agree that we would love to see more restaurants, coffee shops, bars, gyms, and good balanced supermarkets.”

Scoping testimony from Miguel Jimenez, Local Resident

Affordable Housing

”Affordable housing is the foundation of a healthy community. Specifically, creating more housing at Broadway Junction is crucial to improve the quality of life and economic well-being for all East New Yorkers.”

 Scoping testimony from Vernon J, Equity Platforms

Project Location

Broadway Junction is one of New York City’s busiest transit hubs, sitting at the intersection of five major subway lines, six bus routes, and the Long Island Rail Road. More than 4 million people pass through Broadway Junction annually and 30 million commuters transfer at the station.

Located at the intersection of seven neighborhoods, the Herkimer-Williams site is an opportunity for true community-driven development, building on the momentum of recent public and private investments in the area.

Opportunity

The area around Broadway Junction is surrounded by five acres of concrete lots. For a long time, residents have raised concerns about revitalizing this site to meet urgent needs for more economic opportunity, affordable housing, and open space.

Herkimer-Williams is centered on the development of 100% affordable housing, creating good local jobs, fostering community partnerships, and realizing much-needed improvements to the public realm. Rezoning the 2-acre site can help meet the needs and desires of East New Yorkers by creating:

100% Affordable Housing

  • The priority is to deliver housing relief as soon as possible. As such, construction for new housing units will be front-loaded in the first phases of the project.
  • Up to 1,000 affordable housing units

New Opportunities for Jobs,
Education and Financial Security

  • Equally as important as affordable housing, space dedicated for employment and educational programs serves as a driver of this development.
  • Up to 440,000 SF of commercial space and 100,000 SF of light industrial space coming online over several years, including a green economy hub in the project's first phase

Community Programming

  • Herkimer-Williams will create space for community uses and programming that help benefit East New Yorkers.
  • Approximately 85,000 square feet of space for community programming, including space for an institutional education anchor

Improved Open Space

  • Herkimer-Williams will help enhance the pedestrian environment, increasing visibility and safety through improved open space along the ground floor.
  • Up to 25,000 SF of publicly accessible ground floor open space
  • Coordination with the City on design and delivery of a new public plaza across from Broadway Junction train station

Neighborhood Retail

  • Herkimer-Williams will create new opportunities for neighborhood scale retailers servicing East New Yorkers and those who traverse Broadway Junction daily.
  • Approximately 114,000 square feet of retail space for a grocery store and other neighborhood-scale retail

Timeline

2016

East New York Rezoning approved ↓

2018

Community releases vision for Broadway Junction ↓

2019

NYC EDC releases Broadway Junction, A Vision for the Future

Winter of 2021

Preliminary proposal for Herkimer-Williams

March 2022

Public town hall for Herkimer-Williams proposal ↓

Dec 2023

environmental
scoping hearing

Spring 2025

ULURP certification

Ongoing Community Engagement

Developer briefings with community board, local residents, neighborhood organizations, and stakeholders, totaling nearly 100 meetings

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