City launches ambitious 2040 initiative to remedy chronic flooding, infrastructure gaps, and decades of neglect through comprehensive redevelopment
From Decades of Neglect to State-of-the-Art Water Management
In a landmark move addressing one of New York City’s most overlooked neighborhoods, municipal officials have unveiled the comprehensive Jewel Streets Neighborhood Plan, committing to transform a chronically neglected area at the Brooklyn-Queens border into a modern, resilient urban district by 2040. The neighborhood, identified on maps simply as “The Hole,” represents a unique infrastructure challenge. Unlike the rest of New York City, the sunken area was never connected to the municipal sewer system, leaving residents vulnerable to chronic flooding.
The Reality of Living in “The Hole”
Resident Bart Aclin describes conditions with stark clarity: “There’s no sidewalks. There’s no sewers.” Neighbor Monti Ehume reflected the desperation that characterizes daily life: “Even if you have a pump–sometimes I use two, three pumps–it’s still not enough.” Advocate Debra Ack, working with the East New York Community Land Trust, discovered shocking conditions during community engagement. This realization prompted residents to file a demand letter with city officials, urging action on quality-of-life issues long ignored by municipal administration.
A Rebranding and a Remedy
The city’s response rebrands the area as the “Jewel Streets” neighborhood, honoring the streets named Sapphire, Amber, Ruby, and Emerald that traverse this forgotten corner. Council Member Chris Banks articulated the moral imperative: “This part of the district has been left behind, and we think that it has been a grave injustice. We need to right the wrong.” The comprehensive plan promises infrastructure overhaul including sewer installation, sidewalk construction, elevation raising, improved transit access, and construction of affordable housing units. NYC Housing Preservation and Development acting commissioner Ahmed Tigani frames the initiative as requiring phased implementation: “We have a build-out date of 2040, which is why it’s critically important that we work in phases.”
Green Infrastructure and Future-Proofing
Department of Environmental Protection commissioner Rohit Aggarwala emphasizes the climate resilience dimensions of the plan. The transformation includes green infrastructure elements and conversion of a vacant lot into a park featuring a lake designed for water management. “Ten years from now, when this is completed, this will actually be a state-of-the-art sewage system and water management system,” Aggarwala states. “We are building for the storms of the future, not the storms of the past.”
Resident Choice and Skepticism
The plan offers residents agency through a “Resilient Acquisitions” buyout program, allowing those who prefer relocation to voluntarily sell their homes to the city at fair market rates. Resident Moses Edouard expresses optimism: “I just want a prosperous neighborhood. I just want the neighborhood to look like every other neighborhood across New York City.” However, longer-term residents harbor reservations. Walter Basdeo captures the skepticism: “To say ‘skeptical’ is an understatement. We don’t believe the city, that they will do anything.”
