1,000 Affordable Apts in ENY at Broadway Junction Approved by NYC

East New York’s Broadway Junction is set for major new development following the City Council’s approval of Totem’s Herkimer-Williams ULURP application. The project aims to transform a privately owned two-acre parcel into a mixed-use center anchored by affordable housing and space for community use.

A game-changing decision for East New York

First unveiled in winter 2021, Totem’s vision for Herkimer-Williams leverages the East New York Neighborhood Plan and capitalizes on the area’s 2016 rezoning. With approval secured, the project is poised to connect housing, employment, education, retail, and open space at one of Brooklyn’s major transit nodes.

Totem: “A significant moment for East New York’s future”

Vivian Liao, Totem’s co-founder and principal, shared, “This City Council vote is a significant milestone for Herkimer-Williams and East New York as a whole. From the beginning, we set out to design a project that matches the goals of the neighborhood. The approval is a result of over five years of discussions and more than 100 meetings with community members. We deeply appreciate the support of the City, Council Member Nurse, the Borough President, and our partners for placing their trust in us to bring opportunity and growth to this area.”
Broadway Junction Housing Rendering -photo credit: Totem Developers

Impact for East New York

With ULURP now complete, Herkimer-Williams is cleared to proceed at Broadway Junction. Once developed, the initiative will add a significant amount of affordable housing near a key transit hub, while delivering public open space and community facilities to meet local needs. Other planned elements, like retail, commercial, and industrial space, are designed to support job creation, as well as services and early programming—such as the proposed East New York Green Economy Institute—to assist entrepreneurs and job seekers.

Components of the Herkimer-Williams proposal

Main development highlights include:

• Up to 1,000 new affordable homes
• 25,000 square feet of publicly accessible open space
• 85,000 square feet for community amenities, including an educational anchor
• About 114,000 square feet for neighborhood and destination retail
• Roughly 440,000 square feet of commercial and 100,000 square feet of industrial space

Ongoing community engagement and next steps

Totem notes that it engaged in more than 100 separate meetings with East New York stakeholders throughout planning. The project also promises ongoing community programming, including the new East New York Green Economy Institute coming in the first phase — a resource for local entrepreneurs and job seekers.