Williamsburg Leaders Criticize Mayor Adams’ DOT Repair Shop Redevelopment Plan

Local leaders are pushing back against Mayor Eric Adams’ recent proposal to redevelop the DOT repair shop on the Williamsburg waterfront, calling the plan “unserious” and highlighting the lack of community input.

Borough President Antonio Reynoso, along with Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez and Lincoln Restler, issued a joint statement responding to the plan, which they said was drafted “without any communication or coordination with the local community or elected officials.”

“The Southside and South Williamsburg neighborhoods have among the lowest rates of green space of any area in New York City,” the statement reads. “The Southside, or Los Sures, was famously ravaged by the BQE and has been a longtime environmental justice community that has prioritized addressing health inequities with more green space and parks.”

The officials emphasized that local leaders have been advocating for over 15 years to relocate the DOT repair shop and transform the site into a park, providing the community with much-needed green space.

They added, “This proposal from the lame-duck Adams administration is unserious, and we look forward to working with the next Mayor to transform this waterfront lot into urgently needed green space for our community.”