Neighborhood Planning

Jewel Street Neighborhood Plan FAQ

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What is a neighborhood planning process?

  • HPD’s neighborhood planning process is a yearlong collaboration with a community to create a comprehensive plan for the neighborhood’s future.
  • The process builds on what is great about a neighborhood today and develops strategies to solve major issues affecting local communities.
  • The process produces an action plan to guide city investment in infrastructure, services, and amenities.

What will come out of this process? 

  • The process will culminate in a neighborhood plan which will summarize recommendations developed with community members related to affordable housing, transportation, parks, community services, infrastructure and more.
  • HPD will then work with the relevant City agencies to ensure the plan gets implemented.
  • You can see the results of HPD’s previous neighborhood planning efforts in Brownsville, Brooklyn and Edgemere, Queens

What are the Jewel Streets and why is the City proposing a neighborhood planning process there?

  • The Jewel Streets refer to the north-south streets spanning an area named after various jewels: Ruby, Emerald, Amber, and Sapphire Streets. The 12-block neighborhood straddles the border of East New York, Brooklyn and Lindenwood, Queens and is known to residents as “The Hole” due to its sunken streets. The low-lying area’s high-water table and lack of stormwater and sanitary sewer infrastructure contribute to year-round flooding and quality of life issues.
  • Residents in the Jewel Streets sent a letter to city agencies and elected officials in February 2022 calling attention to neighborhood concerns including:
    • Acute flooding due to lack of stormwater and sewer infrastructure
    • Vacant lots, open storage, illegal parking and vehicle storage
    • History of environmental contamination and ongoing sewage seepage
  • The overlapping issues require coordinated housing, economic and infrastructure strategies led by a community vision.

What areas are part of the planning process?

  • The unique flooding and quality of life conditions in the Jewel Streets were the impetus for the current planning effort, but larger area concerns are important to consider as part of a holistic plan in the Jewel Streets were the impetus for the current planning effort, but larger area concerns are important to consider as part of a holistic plan.
  • The larger area being considered is bounded by Fountain Avenue to the west, Sutter Avenue to the north, Conduit Avenue to the east and the Shore Parkway to the south.
  • This area includes multiple neighborhoods, including the Jewel Streets, City Line, East New York, Lindenwood and Spring Creek, and many housing developments including:
    • Linden Plaza
    • NYCHA Pink Houses
    • NYCHA Cypress Hills Houses
    • Spring Creek Gardens
    • Linden Terrace
    • Emerald Green
    • Loring Estates

What are the goals of the neighborhood planning process?

  • Community members can still help shape the goals of the plan!
  • Our preliminary goals are based on feedback we’ve already heard:
    • Reduce flooding now and in the future by building resilient green infrastructure and improve community resilience
    • Outline a community-supported vision for city-owned land
    • Improve street infrastructure, pedestrian safety, and connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods
    • Facilitate job creation, community services, and amenities
    • Develop a long-term land use plan for the Jewel Streets

How can I get involved?

Who is leading the process? Who is involved?

  • HPD is leading the planning process in partnership with residents, community advocates, local elected officials and many city agencies. Partners include:
    • City Councilmember Barron
    • City Councilmember Ariola
    • East New York Community Land Trust (ENY CLT)
    • Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC)
    • Jewel Streets community stakeholders
    • NYC Department of Environmental Protection
    • NYC Department of Transportation
    • NYC Department of Sanitation
    • NYC Department of Buildings
    • Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
    • NYC Department of City Planning
    • And many others!

Is the City doing anything to address neighborhood issues right now?

Yes! While working on a long-term, holistic neighborhood plan, the City is actively investing in neighborhood improvements.

Since May 2022, the City has responded to community concerns in a variety of ways:

  • NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has installed new storm sewers at key intersections, including at Emerald Street and Dumont Avenue, Amber Street and Dumont Avenue, Sapphire Street and Loring Avenue, and 79th Street and Loring Avenue.
  • NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has cleaned up nearly 80 tons of trash from vacant lots and has caught 15 illegal dumpers
  • New York City Police Department (NYPD), in partnership with DSNY, has ticketed and towed nearly 100 illegally parked and abandoned vehicles
  • NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) has issued violations to 11 properties for illegal commercial and industrial uses and has padlocked two properties operating illegally.

How do I get help with my housing?

If you need immediate help with housing concerns, call HPD’s Navigators at (212) 863-6300 or email askhpd@hpd.nyc.gov