Brooklyn News

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NYC Begins $17.8M Brooklyn Music School Renovation

New York City has started a $17.8 million renovation of a historic Cobble Hill firehouse that will become the first permanent home of the Noel Pointer Foundation. The 6,000-square-foot building at 299 DeGraw Street, originally constructed in 1857, will be transformed into a modern music education facility with soundproofed lesson rooms, a recording studio, music library, gallery, ensemble space and courtyard. The foundation provides music education and performance opportunities to young people across the five boroughs and currently serves more than 2,000 children annually. Its new Brooklyn headquarters will support expanded after-school, weekend and summer programs while restoring significant elements of the former Engine Company 204 firehouse. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2028.

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Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas Elected Brooklyn Party Chair

Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas was elected Chair of the Kings County Democratic Party and is calling for unity, expanded participation and a stronger Democratic Party focused on communities across Brooklyn.

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NYC Artists Can Now Apply for Grants Up to $10,000

New York City is doubling the maximum amount available through city-funded grants for individual artists and small nonprofits, increasing awards from $5,000 to as much as $10,000 for the first time in nearly two decades. The Department of Cultural Affairs provides the funding through local partners in each borough, supporting filmmakers, musicians, dancers, writers, painters and other creative professionals. Applications are currently open in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens, while Staten Island's application cycle will begin in November. The city is also expanding support through Materials for the Arts, giving current artist grantees dedicated opportunities to obtain free supplies. Eligibility requirements and application deadlines vary by borough.

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NYC Upgrades Brooklyn Bridge Bike Route in Brooklyn

NYC DOT is beginning work on major bike lane upgrades connecting Brooklyn neighborhoods to the Brooklyn Bridge, where an average of 5,625 cyclists cross each day. The project will redesign Adams Street and Boerum Place between Bergen and Front streets, ultimately creating just over a mile of upgraded cycling infrastructure from Boerum Hill to DUMBO. A two-way protected bike path will replace portions of the existing standard bike lane, which the agency says is frequently blocked by illegally parked vehicles. Work beginning in 2026 will focus on the section between Atlantic Avenue and Tillary Street, with additional improvements planned for 2027. NYC DOT announced the project as part of its annual Biketober cycling initiative.

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NYC Begins $40M Box Street Park in Greenpoint

Construction has begun on the $40 million Box Street Park in Greenpoint, advancing a project envisioned for the North Brooklyn waterfront more than two decades ago. The 2.5-acre park will transform a former MTA facility along Newtown Creek into public green space featuring an elevated esplanade, ADA-accessible pathways, gardens, a lawn, basketball court, picnic area, dog runs and public restroom. The project will also connect with waterfront esplanades on either side of the site, helping close a gap along the northern Greenpoint waterfront. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2028. The park is planned to eventually expand by another half-acre following the relocation of an MTA facility.

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OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Nikki Lucas Announces Dem Chair Bid

Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas has issued the following statement announcing her candidacy to serve as the next Chair of the Kings County Democratic Party:

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Brooklyn Nets Name Alibaba Official Technology Partner

The Brooklyn Nets are partnering with Alibaba Group in a multi-year agreement that will bring new technology to Barclays Center while placing the company's brand on the team's jerseys. Alibaba will serve as an official technology and cloud partner of the Nets and become the team's official jersey patch partner during its 60th anniversary season. Beginning with the 2026–27 NBA season, Alibaba technology will power a Real-Time 360° Replay system designed to give fans more immersive views of game action. The partnership will also introduce an in-arena Nets Figure Lab where fans can create personalized collectible cards. The Nets and Alibaba plan to test additional technology and marketing applications throughout the season.

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Brooklyn Unveils Little Panama Way in Crown Heights

Brooklyn's Panamanian community has received permanent recognition in Crown Heights with the unveiling of Little Panama Way along Franklin Avenue. The ceremonial street co-naming honors generations of Panamanians who established families, businesses, institutions and cultural traditions in the neighborhood beginning decades ago. Panama 507 Roundtable Group organized the September 24 celebration with community organizations, elected officials and Panamanian dignitaries. The recognition comes as a related effort advances to establish a Little Panama Cultural District in the area, creating a framework for preserving Panamanian heritage while supporting cultural programming and economic activity. State legislation authorizing the cultural designation has passed both houses of the New York State Legislature

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City Tech Gets $200K for Hospitality Scholarships

New York City College of Technology, a CUNY college located in Downtown Brooklyn, will receive another $200,000 for scholarships supporting students pursuing careers in New York City's hospitality industry. The Francesco and Mary Giambelli Foundation renewed its four-year commitment to the City Tech Foundation, providing $50,000 annually for Hospitality Management students. The new grant will bring the foundation's total support for the program to $400,000 after an initial commitment funded scholarships for 50 students between 2022 and 2026. Awards range from $500 to the cost of a full semester's tuition and are available to eligible full- and part-time students based on financial need, academic achievement or a combination of both.