Closing Bell: The Complications of the Broadway Triangle

Today Urban Omnibus profiles the Broadway Triangle, the “no man’s land” between Bed Stuy, Williamsburg and Bushwick that they say “continues to suffer from failed urban renewal plans, political posturing, accusations of intentional segregation, and multi-year litigation. It is simultaneously Brooklyn’s no-mans land and the site of overlapping and contentious territorial claims.” It’s an in-depth look at the attempts to develop the area, which resulted in opposition from the Latino and African American communities when the plans for the affordable housing looked like they would favor the Hasidic population. The city’s development plan was ultimately blocked in court this January. This April community groups bid $10 million to buy the lots still owned by Pfizer and develop 840 units of inclusionary public housing. It’s unknown whether the bid has been accepted. The author of this piece, Meg Kelly, also filmed a short video about this contested territory. You can see a short trailer here. The video is part of the UnionDocs Collaborative Studio, who will screen place-based works at film festivals and alternative venues nationwide.
Why is the Broadway Triangle Still Empty? [Urban Omnibus]
Photo via Urban Omnibus