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

State of the State Exclusive: Hochul Will Push ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Bill Through Her Budget

City motorists with a documented pattern of excessive speeding would be required to install speed-limiting devices inside their cars, Gov. Hochul is expected to announce today.

January 13, 2026

Westward Ho! Hochul Proposes to Extend Second Ave. Subway Along 125th Street to Broadway

The westward crosstown extension will connect what is now the Q train to seven different subway lines.

January 13, 2026

Delivery Apps Have Stolen $550M From Workers By Changing How Customers Tip: Mamdani Admin. Report

The average tip on UberEats and DoorDash is just 76¢ per delivery — compared to $2.17 on apps that offer the option to tip before checkout.

January 13, 2026

NJ Pols Want Registration Of Low-Speed E-Bikes, Despite Driver Mayhem

A restrictive e-bike registration bill is one step closer to becoming law in the Garden State.

January 13, 2026

Go ACE! Bus Stops Are Clearer Than Ever Thanks To MTA’s Bus-Mounted Camera Enforcement

Automated cameras are clearing up bus stops across the city.

January 13, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines: It’s a Tracker Edition

Check it out: We're tracking if Mayor Mamdani will deliver where Mayor Eric Adams failed. Plus other news.

January 13, 2026
See all posts