Hillel Place Plaza; A Case Study of a New Public Plaza in Brooklyn

David Burney (Pratt Institute)

Hillel Place Plaza at Flatbush Junction in Brooklyn is part of the Plaza Program established by the NYC Department of Transportation ("DoT") to create new public space in areas that have limited access to parks and other public open space. For Hillel Place the DoT has established a partnership agreement with the Flatbush Junction Business Improvement District (the "BID"). In fall 2017 the Flatbush Junction BID invited Pratt Institute to help in the design and programming of the future plaza.

Flatbush Junction has been a major transit hub in Brooklyn since the 19th century, when trolley cars and railroads were the primary means of transportation. Hillel Place, the proposed site for the pedestrian plaza, is a smaller, quieter street that serves as a transition from the verdant Brooklyn College area to the bustling Flatbush Junction. The Pratt study analyzed the issues facing the complex, dynamic area of Flatbush Junction as a whole. The study drew upon contemporary theories of equity and community empowerment to inform the planning and design process. Using civic engagement strategies such as intercept surveys, ethnographic research, and place audits the researchers sought to understand what resources the community was lacking and what needs could be met by a pedestrian plaza. This paper examines how such plazas can be public spaces not just for rest and relaxation, but places where positive social interaction can occur that will integrate and strengthen the existing community. The paper recommends measures that go beyond the scope set by the Department of Transportation and just Hillel Place Plaza; It suggests broader transportation improvements for The Junction, as well as an economic and political strategy to empower residents and community stakeholders so that they have a voice in future development and rezoning of their neighborhood.