At a time of year when many are eager to be outside, that just got a little easier for residents of Downtown Brooklyn: The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) recently opened 15,000 square feet of temporary green space on the future site of Willoughby Square Park, which has been described as “the Bryant Park of Downtown Brooklyn.” It will be open until summer 2020, at which point construction of the permanent park will begin in earnest.
Willoughby Square Park was originally conceived to go on top of an underground parking garage with a private developer at the helm, but the plan fell through in February 2019 (h/t Crain's). However, at the end of May, the NYCEDC announced that it would take on the project. The 1.2-acre park is expected to open in 2022.
“We are excited to open this space and look forward to the continued development of the full site, which will be an important addition to Downtown Brooklyn” – James Patchett, President and CEO, NYCEDC
Rendering of Willoughby Square Park via Hargreaves Associates
Landscape design firm Hargreaves Jones is leading the design of Willoughby Square Park. In addition to new community amenities, the park will feature a public memorial commemorating the 19th century abolitionist movement in Brooklyn. This builds on “In Pursuit of Freedom,” a public history initiative led by the Brooklyn Historical Society, Weeksville Heritage Center, and Irondale Ensemble Project. The process of selecting an artist to design the memorial is about to begin.
Downtown Brooklyn has enjoyed a renaissance since the 2004 rezoning, and the Willoughby Square Park is taking shape in a particularly vibrant stretch of it. The site is directly adjacent to Brooklyn Point, where current availabilities start at $907K. It is also directly adjacent to City Point, allowing visitors to enjoy their purchases at Dekalb Market Hall and the much-anticipated McNally Jackson outpost outside. 11 Hoyt, Studio Gang’s first New York residential tower, is a few blocks away.
Green space
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