Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Clarence Eckerson

Streetfilm: The Transformation of Willoughby Street

IMG_1445.jpg

This spring, the DOT transformed the corner of Willoughby and Adams Streets in downtown Brooklyn from a dull gray, little-used automobile pass-through (above) into a pedestrian space complete with chairs, benches, plants, tables and sun umbrellas.  But would the people come? Filmmaker Clarence Eckerson took his video camera to the corner to find out. The result is a 1-minute, 26-second Streetfilm on the Willoughby Street transformation.  He quotes Streetsblog's own Ethan Kent:

They've created a destination for downtown office workers, for people from all over Brooklyn, to come and spend some time in a way they hadn't been able to before. The great thing about this is they just went ahead and did this. It wasn't a lot of studies. It wasn't a long plan. They just said, "Hey, let's try it. Let's experiment, see if it's possible."

Streetfilms, which you've seen here and elsewhere on the Internet, is coming to its big screen debut with a screening this coming Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater, East 3rd Street between Avenues A and B.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Year, Same Carnage: One Killed, Another Badly Hurt, By Hit-and-Run Driver in Queens

The driver of an SUV struck two men in Queens early on New Year's Day and kept on driving even as one of the men died and the other was gravely injured.

January 1, 2026

New Year’s Headlines: New Mayor Edition

Happy New Mayor! Plus other news.

January 1, 2026

Mamdani Picks Mike Flynn for DOT Commissioner — And Put Him Center Stage at his Swearing In

Flynn worked at DOT from 2005 to 2014 on pedestrian and bike projects and capital planning.

December 31, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: 2nd-Most Important Job Edition

When will Mayor-Elect Mamdani name a DOT commissioner? Plus other news.

December 31, 2025

The Year in Mamdani: The Incoming Mayor Was on the Streetsblog Beat in 2025

These are the transportation policy highlights of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's improbable 2025 run for City Hall.

December 31, 2025

Danger Ahead: City To Let Car Drivers Reoccupy Forest Park Next Week

Freedom Drive will no longer be free from drivers.

December 30, 2025
See all posts