Since its rezoning in 2004, downtown Brooklyn has added close to 27,000 new housing units.
One New York City borough is building housing faster than others, with over 3,700 new units already built in 2025. Downtown Brooklyn, formerly dominated by offices, is now home to a growing number of homes.
According to a report from Crain’s New York, the 3,700+ new units include over 1,000 affordable units. As Emily Davis explains in a New York Post article, the neighborhood’s transformation mirrors that of Manhattan’s Financial District, which shifted from a primarily commercial district to one with significant residential stock.
Since the neighborhood was rezoned in 2004, over 26,000 new housing units have been added. Residential foot has increased 97 percent since 2019, and new commercial developments are popping up around the neighborhood.
Read the full story: Unexpected NYC neighborhood sets housing record with 3,700-plus units built in 2025 — and there are thousands more to come
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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