14-05-2025
Queens neighborhoods undergo rezoning for residential and commercial growth
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) – Building affordable housing is a top priority in the city, but it's a tough process.
Five neighborhoods are undergoing a new approach to rezoning. Neighbors are making sure they are being heard.
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Long Island City is moving ahead with public review and comment on proposals for more residential, commercial, and open space.
Laura Rothrock is the executive director of the Long Island City Partnership.
'People think of LIC and its large towers, but there are areas that need investment,' she said.
For 18 months, the community has submitted ideas and proposals for a 54-block area that focuses mainly along Vernon Boulevard around the Queensborough Bridge.
A new life for the Department of Education building is on the list. It sits next to an empty lot and across from other areas that could be developed for housing.
Lashawn 'Suga Ray' Marston has been speaking up.
'We have to change what affordable means. 4,000 units out of 14,000. But affordable for who?' Marston asked.
He has held demonstrations at the school site.
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Zoning regulations will have to be changed first in LIC.
The neighborhood plans would also create new open space, infrastructure, and waterfront access in Long Island City. Areas are separated or inaccessible. One plan would connect Gantry State Park and Queensbridge Park.
Dan Garodnick is the Director of the Department of City Planning, which has approved the proposals. As the process moves ahead, public comment can be submitted to the city council.
'Add more opportunity for housing and jobs. And for the first time, this would require affordable housing here,' Garodnick said.
The promise in Long Island City is more than 4,000 permanent affordable housing units among 14,000 units. Director Garodnick says it's about finding a balance.
'We are creating a requirement for private interest to provide affordable housing. There's a limit beyond which a development is not viable. We want to make sure we are getting all of it,' Garodnick said.
Neighbors and the local community boards are involved.
Anatole Ashraf is Chairperson of Queens Community Board 2. He wants to see accountability.
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'We want to make sure there are concrete plans on the roadmap that we can point to and say 'this didn't happen by this time,'' Ashraf said.
The New York City Council will vote after the public process wraps up in the fall. Julie Won represents LIC on the council.
'After 18 months of extensive public engagement, which shaped our community priorities, I am energized to enter certification and negotiations for OneLIC. I will fight to ensure the final OneLIC Neighborhood Plan delivers resiliency, sustainability, and longevity, through commitments on deeply affordable housing, pathways to affordable home ownership, thousands of additional school seats, a connected waterfront, new green spaces, and more,' said Council Member Julie Won.
The public can testify and comment on the One LIC Neighborhood Plan at the joint public hearing with Queens Community Boards one and two at LaGuardia Community College Mainstage Theater on May 21st.
Mayor Eric Adams, the Department of City Planning, and his administration are also working on neighborhood proposals for Jamaica, Queens, Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, Midtown South, and the Bronx from Hunts Point to Co-Op City. The new Metro-North stations are set to open in 2027.
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