
Jay Street Busway. Image Credit: NYC DOT.
DOT data shows increase in speeds along the busway by 47 percent. On November 19, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio and DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman announced that the Jay Street Busway in Downtown Brooklyn will now be permanent. The busway runs on Jay Street between Tillary Street and Livingston Street. The busway was in a pilot program as part of the Better Buses Restart Plan since August 2020. (more…)

Harriet and Thomas Truesdell House Image Credit: LPC
The designation retains its historical significance despite having alterations. On February 2, 2021, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to designated the Harriet and Thomas Truesdell House as an individual landmark. The house, located at 227 Duffield Street in Downtown Brooklyn, recognizes abolitionists Harriet and Thomas Truesdell and the City’s abolitionist movement. For CityLand’s prior coverage of this designation process, click here. (more…)

Harriet and Thomas Truesdell House Image Credit: LPC
LPC seeks to honor Brooklyn’s abolitionist history with Downtown Brooklyn landmark. On June 30, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar the designation of the Harriet and Thomas Truesdell House located at 227 Duffield Street in Brooklyn. The property is situated in Downtown Brooklyn, between Willoughby Street and Fulton Street. The designation is sought to preserve the historical significance the Truesdells played into the pre-civil war abolitionist movement, having lived in their 227 Duffield home for more than a decade.
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Rhinelander Avenue in Morris Park, Bronx, one of many streets open to pedestrians and cyclists under the Open Streets program. Image Credit: CityLand
The plan will aim to add 100 miles of open streets, widened sidewalks and protected bike lanes. Note: This article has been updated to continuously reflect the added streets as those announcements are made. Please continue to check back for further updates.
On April 27, 2020, the Mayor’s Office announced a plan along with Council Speaker Corey Johnson to implement street closures, sidewalk widening, and the addition of bike lanes as part of the City’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The plan aims to close off streets to cars to provide more space for social distancing for pedestrians and cyclists as the weather gets warmer and more people are expected to go outside. (more…)

Shake Shack, 409 Fulton Street, Brooklyn. Credit: Google Maps
Shake Shack sued landlord to keep popular sidewalk café after landlord failed to re-approve permit. Downtown Brooklyn’s Shake Shack opened in 2010 at 409 Fulton Street. Shake Shack leased the location for a 20-year term with two 5-year renewal options from landlord Allied Property Group. In February 2011, Allied executed the required landowners’ consent to allow Shake Shack to obtain a Department of Consumer Affairs permit to operate a sidewalk cafe adjacent to the restaurant. Shake Shack’s sidewalk cafe became a neighborhood favorite and helped Shake Shack differentiate itself from other restaurants in the area. (more…)