NYC Council Land Use Committees Vote to Approve Jamaica Rezoning Plan, Creating 12,000 New Homes

NEW YORK—The New York City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and Committee on Land Use voted on Oct. 9 to approve the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, New York City’s largest neighborhood rezoning in over 20 years, that will deliver nearly 12,000 new homes, including nearly 4,200 permanently affordable homes in Southeast Queens.

The rezoning will map the largest Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) zone in the entire city, paving the way for nearly 3,800 affordable homes to be built on privately-owned sites. The plan is expected to generate 7,000 new jobs and create more than 2 million square feet of new commercial and community facility spaces.

Through the City Council’s direct negotiating role in the land use process, the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan will provide $413 million in new community investments for Jamaica, including for water and sewer infrastructure, parks and open space, transportation and public realm improvements, public health and safety resources, and educational institutions. The neighborhood investments build on previous funding secured by the council for the Jamaica community to support local infrastructure and institutions, residents, and small businesses.

The City Planning Commission will now review modifications for scope approval, prior to it being voted on by the full Council.

“Jamaica is a thriving and vibrant community, whose success is pivotal to the prosperity of Southeast Queens and our entire city,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, the largest neighborhood rezoning in over two decades, will deliver tens of thousands of new homes and homeownership opportunities, thousands of new jobs, and essential community investments to improve our sewer infrastructure, parks, access to health care, cultural institutions, public and higher education, and quality of life. This level of neighborhood investment, housing affordability, and targeted commitments would not have been possible without the City Council’s direct role in the land use process to negotiate and secure community needs.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams released a statement praising the council’s actions: “With its rich history and diversity, Jamaica represents so much of what makes New York City the greatest city in the world. As a bustling commercial and transit center in Queens, it’s exactly where we should be building new homes and creating high-paying jobs. But unfortunately, Jamaica’s zoning has curtailed new housing opportunities and limited new businesses, making it harder for working-class families to stay in their community. It’s past time we changed that. With today’s vote, we’re one step closer to bringing forth an even more thriving and vibrant Jamaica where New Yorkers of all income levels can thrive.”

Through the negotiation process, the council secured major investments to address chronic flooding and sewer infrastructure issues, including targeted stormwater management and green infrastructure projects. To improve Downtown Jamaica as a transportation hub, the Council secured significant commitments to fund long-overdue improvements to Archer Avenue, an essential point of connection in the public transit system, where tens of thousands of New Yorkers move between subways, buses, and the LIRR every day. These will create a new public plaza, improve pedestrian safety and bus shelters, and make the area more accessible for all residents.

The council also successfully negotiated more than $145 million in funding to expand access to health care for residents with a hospital expansion and new public health center, upgrade local school facilities, create two new parks, develop a new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) center — the first of its kind in Queens —, Queens’ first Trauma Recovery Center to improve public safety, and redevelop a new, multi-service community center in South Jamaica.

The new investments add to previously committed funding from the city to improve Downtown Jamaica, including $315 million to upgrade the area’s sewer infrastructure through the Council’s City for All housing plan. Other existing capital funding commitments include streetscape improvements along Jamaica Avenue, mitigations for York College’s groundwater challenges, renovations to the Jamaica Performing Arts Center’s outdoor space, and improvements to Station Plaza.

To ensure ongoing accountability and transparency on the progress of the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, the Council will convene a four-year independent Downtown Jamaica Oversight Task Force to share updates on the key objectives achieved through the rezoning plan.