Brooklyn is in the midst of infrastructure changes and real estate developments. The Brooklyn Marine Terminal redevelopment is moving forward, while a proposed casino in Coney Island is being rejected. Construction has begun on the Red Hook Coastal Resiliency project, and upgrades are underway along the BQE, Montague Street, Court Street, and Atlantic Avenue near Brooklyn Bridge Park. Work also continues on the new Brooklyn jail, the Williamsburg Wharf complex is taking shape, and Downtown Brooklyn’s ongoing high-rise boom is making headlines.
Brooklyn Marine Terminal redevelopment plan approved by task force
After months of delays, a 28-member task force approved the Brooklyn Marine Terminal redevelopment plan. The 122-acre waterfront site—from Pier 7 at Atlantic Avenue to Pier 12 in Red Hook—will be transformed into a modern port and mixed-use development with housing, parks, a hotel, and more. Next comes a General Project Plan (GPP), which includes environmental review and land-use changes, though construction won’t start for several years. The $3.5 billion plan includes a 60-acre all-electric port, 6,000 new apartments (with 40% permanently affordable), 28+ acres of waterfront parks and public space, a mile-long greenway linking Brooklyn Bridge Park to Atlantic Basin, a new Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, a 400-room hotel; and more. Read more here, and see the full BMT Vision Plan here.
Elected officials vote against Coney Island casino
A proposed 1.6 million-square-foot casino, hotel, convention center, and retail complex in Coney Island has been rejected by a committee of elected officials. The project, called The Coney, was voted down 4-2, killing the bid. Many local residents opposed the Surf Avenue development—planned for the area between Maimonides Park and Luna Park—arguing it would erase neighborhood history, harm small businesses, and raise rents. Read more about the original proposal here.
City breaks ground on Red Hook Coastal Resiliency project
New bus lanes coming to Flatbush Avenue
The DOT will roll out a new dedicated bus lane on Flatbush Avenue this fall, stretching from Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn to Grand Army Plaza. The center-running lanes, complete with new pedestrian boarding areas, aim to speed up commutes for the 132,000 riders who use the corridor daily. The redesign will also improve safety on one of Brooklyn’s deadliest streets—140 people have been killed or seriously injured on Flatbush in the past five years. Construction begins this fall, with completion slated for spring 2026. Read more about the project here.
Safety improvements on Court Street
The DOT has kicked off work on Court Street, from Schermerhorn Street down to Hamilton Avenue, aiming to reduce congestion and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists through Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and the edge of Red Hook. The project will remove one travel lane from the existing two-lane design, adding a protected bike lane, and adding pedestrian islands and curb extensions at intersections. Construction is now underway—full plan details here.
Atlantic Avenue safety upgrades at Brooklyn Bridge Park entrance
The DOT recently made pedestrian safety upgrades on Atlantic Avenue near the crossing to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6. A busy intersection, it’s also been a historically dangerous area for pedestrians. Improvements include a new pedestrian island at Furman St. and Atlantic Ave., and expanded pedestrian island at Columbia St. and Atlantic Ave., and updated signals—now with audible cues and longer crossing times. A possible next phase could go further and decommission the BQE on-ramp, as well as widen sidewalks for pedestrians. These changes would come as a result of a DOT study of the intersection.
BQE repairs to Joralemon Street bridge in Brooklyn Heights
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun repairs to the bridge over Joralemon Street as part of a larger project to repair the portions of the BQE that require most urgent attention. These critical repairs will extend the lifespan of the structure, which dates back to 1954. Starting September 15, the work will take place Monday–Friday, 6am-3pm, for approximately 6 months. As as a result, the Queens-bound BQE will have single-lane closures at night, Furman Street will have single-lane closures during work hours, with flaggers maintaining two-way traffics and Joralemon Street will have single-lane closures and north sidewalk closures. See the full scope of the repairs plan here.
Streetscape changes on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights
Montague Street is finishing up a series of streetscape upgrades between Hicks and Clinton, including curb extensions, curb-side seating, planters, bike corrals, and new loading zones for deliveries. The Brooklyn Heights Association, Montague BID, and Lincoln Restler’s office worked together with the DOT in an effort to improve safety for pedestrians and vehicles and create more public space on Montague Street.
Construction continues on Brooklyn jail complex
Construction continues at 275 Atlantic Avenue, where an 18-story, 1,040-bed jail is visibly rising on the site of the former Brooklyn Detention Center. The 712,000-square-foot facility will include 30,000 square feet of community space, two cellar levels, and an underground tunnel linking it to the adjacent courthouse. The project is part of the city’s plan to shutter Rikers Island and replace it with smaller borough-based jails. Originally slated to be finished in time for Rikers’ planned 2027 closure, the Brooklyn jail is now running at least two years behind schedule, with completion pushed to 2029. In the meantime, Boerum Hill and Brooklyn Heights residents have raised concerns over nonstop construction noise. In April, Councilmember Lincoln Restler introduced a bill aimed at providing some relief for the neighborhood.
New development at 110 Boerum Place in Cobble Hill
A new luxury apartment building is coming to 110 Boerum Place in Cobble Hill. The six-story, red brick development is located between between Dean and Pacific streets and includes 21 units, ranging from 2- to 5-bedroom apartments. The building is approximately 65,000 square feet and features layouts designed with private outdoor spaces in most units. Residences include kitchens with Thermador appliances, bathrooms with marble finishes, radiant heated floors, soaking tubs, and walk-in showers. Amenities include a central courtyard, on-site parking, private storage, and bike storage. Sales recently launched, with prices starting at $2.975 million, and construction is expected to finish in spring 2027.
Williamsburg Wharf’s first phase of construction nears completion
Construction is wrapping up on the first phase of Williamsburg Wharf, a 3.75-acre mixed-use development coming up on the South Williamsburg waterfront. The two-phase plan will bring five 22-story towers with nearly 1 million square feet of residential, commercial, and retail space, including 950 rental and condo units and an esplanade along the East River. Phase one spans three buildings—11 Wharf Way, One and Two Williamsburg Wharf, and Three Williamsburg Wharf—together housing more than 600 units and 17,500 square feet of commercial space, with Breads Bakery, The Goods Mart, and a new restaurant by chef Eyal Shani announced as retail tenants. Amenities range from fitness, co-working, and entertainment spaces to outdoor lawns, a waterfront promenade, and a pool that doubles as a skating rink in winter. The waterfront esplanade is already open to the public! Phase two, with two additional towers, remains in the planning phase.
Downtown Brooklyn’s high-rise boom in the news
Downtown Brooklyn is on pace to set a housing record in 2025, with 3,700 apartments already completed this year and another 1,183 expected by January. But while construction surges, a recent New York Magazine article, “The Disappointment of Downtown Brooklyn,” takes a critical look at two decades of development in the neighborhood. The piece describes a mix of high-rises and spotlights recent projects such as The Rocklyn at 20 Rockwell Place, 589 Fulton Street, 11 Hoyt, and Hanover House at 17 Hanover Place. The article also acknowledges recent improvements, including the redesign of Fulton Mall, new bus lanes coming to Flatbush Avenue, and the opening of Abolitionist Place park. Read the article in full here.
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Updated: September 29, 2025. Main Image: Brooklyn Marine Terminal at Pier 7.
