A massive waterfront space in eastern New York City may be set for an equally enormous transformation. Along Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn, in the properties around a Christian Cultural Center’s megachurch and in partnership with the Gotham Organization and Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, a project marketed as “innovative urban living” is about to take off, pending a scoping hearing to hear questions and concerns from locals. The end product hopes to bring affordable housing, commerce, and years of construction work to the area. 

What Is the Project Going to Involve? 

Construction would be taking place over five lots situated along Flatlands Avenue, Louisiana Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue, totaling about 2.4 million square feet of complex that developers are calling an urban village, with amenities that are contained but publically accessible. Sources report this will involve the construction of 13 new buildings, and altogether locals will be seeing: 

• 2,000+ new apartments, around 1,800 of which will be priced as affordable housing, a portion of which are reserved for elderly residents as part of the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) initiative. The developers endeavor to build a community that doesn’t expose current residents to gentrification or pricing them out of their own neighborhoods. Preference is given to current locals for half the available living spaces. 
• The Christian Cultural Center remains with plans to incorporate it into the overall community. 
• Public amenities are to be created, including a daycare, outdoor public space, both an elementary school and a trade school, and a performing arts center. 
• Once the full project is completed, another major community amenity will be a shuttle service that will give locals access to the L train and the 3 train for those that require access to mass transit.

Much of the project’s vision comes from Reverend A.R. Bernard—current owner of the Christian Cultural Center—who wishes to build a community for its residents, which means supporting current and future residents and their needs. 

Following the public scoping meeting on March 3rd, a more definitive word will come of whether this project moves forward. Other major steps that must be made include an amendment of the current zoning map, as well as necessary permits from the city. 

In Terms of Jobs, What Kind of Work Could Come Out of This?

Construction is expected to be completed around 2031, provided all goes well in terms of planning. By itself, this projected date says a lot about potential work, because if ground breaks at the time it’s currently projected (2021-2022), that’s potentially 10 years’ worth of jobs for any firms that get involved. 

Some structures that already exist are going to need to be remodeled to suit a new purpose. Multiple new structures are to be built, ranging from two to seventeen stories in height. New roadways and walkways are to be expected, especially in park areas, and sources have noted several curb cuts that must be relocated. For now, that’s just what is covered in the planning stages. More details are likely soon to follow.

The Flushing area of Queens on Long Island is looking to see some imminent improvements to the waterfront area. A couple of months ago, Hill West Architects revealed plans for an enormous complex of mixed-use buildings to be constructed in the 29-acre area. There are hopes that this will help to expand the downtown area, provide greater access to the waterfront, expand local housing and business opportunities, and only continue to improve the overall environment. The expansive footprint of this proposed project has led to citizens demanding an environmental impact in order to see assurances of their ecologically-friendly intentions. 

What Is the Pre-Project State of the Flushing River Waterfront?

The good news is that even before construction was to commence, the area has undergone numerous cleanup efforts, taking it from one of the most polluted waterways in the metro area with a notable “rotten egg” stench to marked improvement, as reported in late 2018. Major changes to the area included: 

• Dredging 89,000 cubic yards of sediment, which on its own can adversely affect wetland areas, increase erosion, lower moisture, and make the environment less habitable for local flora and fauna;
• Reworking the local sewer system to stop over 200 million gallons of sewage from dumping into the bay every year; and
• Installing acres of new wetlands that help to filter the water and keep it clean naturally. 

It is not a complete fix, as recent reports suggest that heavy storms still lead to swelling, backed up sewage, and other issues. More than a year after news of improvements to the area, and still stink-free, the waterfront is on its way to transforming into another substantial way, including:  mixed-used properties, including more sorely needed low-income housing, to bring residents back to the area while still sustaining continued environmental improvements.

Moving Forward: Changes the Mixed-Use Project Aims to Bring

Hill West’s project is massive, spanning 29 acres of currently unused industrial space. A total of nine buildings are planned across the site. The project, assuming approval is imminent, should commence this year and is projected to continue, with a steady stream of construction work to follow through to 2025. Further specifics include:

• A total rezoning of the area from industrial to residential. 
• 1,725 new apartments, with around ten percent reserved for below-market-rate spaces.
• 1,387,040 square feet of commercial space, to “include 298,811 square feet of retail, a 714,588-square-foot hotel, and 383,641 square feet of office space.” 
• 21,913 square feet of community facilities.
• 3.14 acres of publicly accessible open space and park area. 
• 1,533 parking spaces. 

But for the rezoning, which is all paperwork, the rest consists of virtually every trade a team will need in construction, across four separate sites, to complete it. Hill West Architects revealed plans show an ambitious transformation over a large chunk of the local map. Pending approvals and impact reports can only reveal more details on how this change could change the local environment for better or worse

After years of discussion and debate, it appears that the New York City Football Club is beginning to reach the more serious planning stages of bringing a soccer stadium into the city limits. They have everything but an official home, and that may soon change. Standing behind the project include developers like Madd Equities, the New York Economic Development Corporation, the Bronx Parking Authority, and the New York Yankees. The location in question would be mere blocks from Yankee Stadium, whose stadium has been home to the NYCFC’s games in the interim. 

How Might a New Stadium Affect the Area? 

According to NYC.gov, sports and recreation entertainment represents the smallest number of establishments and overall jobs in the metropolitan area. Just 100 establishments exist, bringing about 3,900 jobs, and this is in comparison to the next smallest number, the arts, with 1,800 establishments and over 18,000 jobs. It also brings in the smallest in terms of output, the only category in six that doesn’t break a billion dollars annually. In addition to that, their 3,900 jobs add up to over $350 million in wages paid each year, which is nearly identical to wages paid in total by the Venues category, which also has over 19,000 employees. 

Looking at the numbers as they are, it is very easy to see where adding additional sports establishments, where possible, might also bring more jobs and more profits, especially if these establishments are filling niches that don’t yet exist (in full or in part) in the greater area. The NYCFC’s proposal would do just this by giving a home to New York City’s very first soccer-specific stadium. 

The NYCFC Stadium Construction: A Focal Point in a Much Larger Project

Upon finalization, which is expected soon as of the posting of this article, the building of this 25,000-seat stadium will be part of a larger overarching project whose budget is in the ballpark of around $1 billion in total. There is also much more in the planning stages than just a stadium, the scope of which will transform the South Bronx in a number of ways. 

With the earliest date of completion projected for 2024 pending imminent approval, the following details are known: 

• The current site for construction includes parking lots and an elevator parts factory owned by GAL manufacturing (and an agreement to purchase that property has already been reached).
• The NYCFC’s soccer stadium, with its short distance to Yankee Stadium, can draw more sports fans to the area. 
• Also, in the works would be affordable housing units, a school, retail space, and a hotel. This would bring additional housing for visiting teams, a diverse population of local fans, as well as businesses that would stand to benefit from multiple sports entertainment seasons each year. 

It’s suddenly very clear why so many development groups are involved in this proposal so far: the number of demo, construction, and landscaping jobs that stand to come out of this could be staggering.

With the promise for more entertainment venues in the Long Island area, the Topgolf brand has recently broken ground on its first New York location in Holtsville, just off the LIE. No official completion date has been announced, but sources report this development has already been long-awaited. The groundbreaking comes almost five months after reports that the brand had secured approval from Brookhaven planning officials back in September of 2019 with a 6-0 vote in favor. 

Will the Facility Be a Traditional Golf Course? 

With news over the last year of all manner of construction projects in the area of sports, eyebrows may rise with the notion of a new project with the keyword “golf” in the title. Short of club facilities and paved pathways, a typical golf course is usually 100+ acres of well-manicured outdoor landscaping. At a time of housing crisis, golf fans in the metro area might even question where one would also find the space. This is just one of the ways in which Topgolf differs and what probably made it an attraction for Long Islanders clamoring for more area sports. 

The Dallas-based company boasts that Topgolf is a game that anyone can play, featuring: 

• Targeted driving ranges, with multiple game styles for your short game or challenges with friends and family,
• Microchipped golf balls to measure distance and track records and game scores electronically, 
• An attached sports-bar atmosphere with food and drink,
• A multi-story facility with lots of room for entertainment, but a fraction of the size of a typical golf course at around 26 acres. 

The style of the games, with challenges for golfers and non-golfers alike, coupled with good food and a lively atmosphere, tend to be stronger selling points.

What Remains to be Completed, and How Will This Change the Local Landscape?

The site for construction sits between Zebra Technologies and Cheap Sam’s nursery. Before breaking ground, the area was previously wooded and without development. The plans available through the town of Brookhaven’s website show a sprawling, west-facing facility rising three full stories. With a $25 million budget, a facility of this kind must be constructed and fully wired to support an almost wholly electronic experience for players. Distinctive landscaping to accommodate a typical driver green plus the gaming targets are just the beginning, especially since it combines gaming with the trappings of a full restaurant and sports bar. Kitchens, dining areas, and other important additions will follow suit in the overall construction plan. 

Part of this project will involve seamlessly integrating with the neighbors, however. Concerns have been raised by locals living just north of the site regarding noise, light, and traffic. Since typical Topgolf locations close down at around 2 am, concessions are to be made, although Newsday reports that Topgolf was not required to change their hours of operation to obtain approval. However, along with the construction of the facility itself, an additional fence and trees will be constructed between the property and the nearby residents.