
Part of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, one of the four recipients of grants from the city. Image Credit: Google Maps
Four New York City leading scientific research facilities are receiving infrastructure grants to advance innovation and public health. On January 21, 2021, Mayor de Blasio announced that Columbia University, Montefiore-Einstein, the New York Stem Cell Foundation, and Rockefeller University are the four winners of $38 million in infrastructure grants for research and development departments. These grants come as a part of LifeSci NYC, a $500 million project with the goal of establishing New York City as a public health capital. (read more…)

Water main upgrades in Brooklyn. Image Credit: NYC DEP
Nearly seven miles of new water mains will be added to improve water distribution. On September 16, 2020, the New York City Departments of Environmental Protection and Design and Construction announced the new upgrades to the Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay areas. The $30 million project includes replacing nearly seven miles of century-old water mains, 108 fire hydrants, and installing 17 new fire hydrants. The project is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2021 and covers the areas along Avenue S, between Coney Island and Ocean Avenues, as well as portions of East 12th St., Homecrest Avenue, East 13th St. – East 19th St., Avenue T, Avenue U, Avenue V, and Gravesend Neck Road. (read more…)

Image Credit: NYC EDC.
The plan calls for 100 percent affordable housing with emphasis on lowest incomes, transportation, new parks and open space. On March 4, 2020, the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced Mayor Bill de Blasio’s and Amtrak’s Sunnyside Yard Master Plan. The Plan’s framework will focus on building new public transit and making all housing affordable, especially for New Yorkers earning less than $50,000 per year. Sunnyside Yard is bounded by Northern Boulevard to the north, Skillman Avenue to the south, Thomson Avenue to the west and 43rd Street to the east. Over the last fifteen years, Western Queens has experienced rapid growth, putting strains on infrastructure, transportation, and housing. The Sunnyside Yard Master Plan presents an opportunity to create nearly 115 acres of new public land by decking over Sunnyside Yard. (read more…)

Road restoration on 130th Avenue. Image Credit: NYC DEP
The project is set to be completed one season early and over $1 million under budget. On March 4, 2020, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection announced that a major infrastructure upgrade project in Rosedale, Queens, would be completed ahead of schedule. The area, from 130th Avenue to the north, 133th Avenue to the South, and Brookville Boulevard to the west, is part of an area in southeast Queens that has faced flooding in the past. (read more…)

Image Credit: NYC DDC
The upgrades include new traffic signals, traffic islands, new water mains, fire hydrants and curb extensions along the route. On February 14, 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced the completion of the redevelopment of one of the busiest bus routes along Utica Avenue in Brooklyn, connecting major residential and commercial hubs. The $22.7 million dollar project will improve the B46 Select Bus Service (SBS), which services about 44,000 daily riders between Bedford-Stuyvesant to the Kings Plaza Mall. (read more…)

Mayor de Blasio at the April 5th press conference. Image credit: Mayor’s Office.
Roof rehabilitations are part of the de Blasio administration’s plan to improve NYCHA’s physical infrastructure and safety. On April 5, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the roofs at 65 NYCHA buildings have been completely replaced as part of the Mayor’s plan to replace the roofs of NYCHA buildings. Mayor de Blasio has invested $1.3 billion so far to repair 950 roofs of NYCHA buildings. The new roofs will reduce mold on NYCHA buildings and provide a long-term, cost-effective solution to improve the quality of life for tenants. (read more…)