BENSONHURST, Brooklyn (WABC) — Crews could break ground Monday morning on a controversial and long-proposed homeless shelter in Bensonhurst.
Hundreds of people in the community are opposed to the plan and are calling on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to shut down construction.
While the area is quiet now, the scene looked very different hours earlier.
NYPD officers remained on scene as neighbors in Bensonhurst made their voices heard, pushing back against a shelter expected to serve 150 homeless men and slated to open in the community.
Opposition has been mounting, with some residents believing construction crews were preparing to break ground.
A furious crowd gathered around 8 p.m. Sunday and remained until midnight, with many chanting together in an effort to be heard.
Police were on scene and barricades were put up as the crowd grew. Trucks appeared to make their way onto the site at 86th Street and 25th Avenue.
This is not the first time large demonstrations have taken place in South Brooklyn.
Community members have held multiple protests over the past three years opposing the city’s plans.
Some local lawmakers are also against the site, citing its proximity to a transportation hub and areas frequented by mothers, children and the elderly, and raising concerns it could become a magnet for trouble.
One person was arrested during Sunday night’s demonstration.
According to the city, officials are moving forward with the project, with the shelter expected to open sometime next year.
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