Long Island City Neighborhood Plan Advances Toward Public Review - DCP

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For Immediate Release
June 25, 2024

Contacts:
Casey Berkovitz, Joe Marvilli – press@planning.nyc.gov (212) 720-3471

Long Island City Neighborhood Plan Advances Toward Public Review

Draft Zoning Proposal Could Enable as Many as 14,000 New Homes, including At Least 4,000 Affordable

Proposed Rezoning Would Create Commercial Space, Advance Strategies for Housing Preservation, Parks and Open Space, Connectivity, Resilience, Neighborhood Services, and More

NEW YORK – New York Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick today released the draft zoning framework, a detailed zoning map, and draft strategies to advance the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan toward environmental and public review. The zoning proposal, first unveiled at a neighborhood town hall on Monday evening, would facilitate the creation of around 14,000 new homes, including at least 4,000 income-restricted affordable homes, allow for more than three million square feet of new commercial space, and improve waterfront access and the public realm. DCP also presented draft strategies to guide the neighborhood plan as it progresses, including: preserving affordable housing and generating new housing; investing in parks and delivering new open space; enhancing connectivity and pedestrian safety; improving resilience; supporting businesses and the creative community; investing in neighborhood services; and supporting local partners.

“This is an opportunity to take a comprehensive look at LIC’s strengths and needs, and plan for a more affordable, resilient neighborhood,” said DCP Director Dan Garodnick. “With this plan, we can deliver much-needed housing, including mandating affordable housing for the first time in this neighborhood, good jobs, improved transportation, and excellent open spaces and waterfront access.”

“Since the beginning of the OneLIC Neighborhood Planning Process, I have ensured that we are centering our community’s voices so that we develop a neighborhood plan that meets our long-term needs and puts people over profit. Throughout 11 meetings with over 1,300 attendees, our community’s priorities are clear: we must commit to building 100 percent affordable housing on public land, open desperately needed schools, support local businesses, increase green space, and plan for resiliency for our current and future residents,” said Council Member Julie Won. “Our current developer-driven land use process has led to tremendous growth in our neighborhoods but at the cost of increased displacement, record high rents, a lack of school seats, green space, and much more. Over the next year and a half, I will continue to ensure that our community’s priorities, especially those from our neighbors who have been historically excluded from previous planning efforts, are reflected in the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan.”

The Long Island City Neighborhood Plan, first announced in October 2023, has gathered public feedback and been refined over three rounds of “focus area meetings” and two previous town halls, where Council Member Julie Won, DCP, and facilitator WXY Studio helped to develop shared goals and community recommendations based on the community’s input. The zoning proposal and draft strategies shared at Monday’s town hall, attended by more than 200 community members, set the stage for the plan to begin environmental review. Later this summer, DCP will release a draft scope of work and hold a scoping meeting for the community to weigh in on environmental review for the plan.

The proposed land use would update the Waterfront Access Plan to guide development and ensure public open space, a continuous public walkway, amenities, improved resilience, and connections to inland areas to the east. The proposal would enable high-density mixed residential, commercial, and light industrial uses along the waterfront, from roughly 46th Road, just south of Anable Basin, stretching to roughly 44th Avenue, and would enable high-density housing near Court Square, at the east end of the study area. North of the Queensboro Bridge, between 21st St. and 23rd St., the proposed land use would enable high- and medium-density mixed-use residential, commercial, or light manufacturing developments. Along 44th Drive and in the southern portion of the study area, the proposal would enable medium-density residential, commercial, and light manufacturing uses. And in the portion of the Long Island City Industrial Business Zone (IBZ), the proposal would enable high- and medium- density manufacturing, commercial, and community facility uses to support business success and growth.

The plan would map Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) across the study area, requiring income-restricted affordable housing as a part of new development in the neighborhood for the first time. By doing so, it could create 4,000 income-restricted affordable homes at an average of 60% or 80% of the area median income (AMI) – three times as many as have been created in the last decade in Long Island City for New Yorkers earning under 120% AMI. Paired with continuing city investment in affordable housing and a new tax incentive for mixed-income development, the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan would ensure the neighborhood offers housing opportunity to New Yorkers at all income levels.

The proposed zoning districts unveiled at Monday’s Long Island City Neighborhood Plan town hall.

This proposal will be further refined and DCP will develop additional policies to achieve the goals of the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan as it progresses. Following the scoping meeting and completion of environmental review, the plan will enter the formal Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), a roughly seven-month process with review by the community board, borough president, City Planning Commission, and City Council. That process is anticipated to be completed by late 2025.

“Thank you to the Department of City Planning and Council Member Julie Won for their dedication and hard work on the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan. This initiative reflects our community’s unique mixed-use heritage and commitment to responsible, sustainable growth,” said Laura Rothrock, president, Long Island City Partnership. “We are eager to collaborate further to refine and implement strategies that enhance housing, commercial spaces, and public amenities, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of Long Island City and foster a prosperous future for our neighborhood.”

“Long Island City is one of the fastest growing communities in the country and now we have an opportunity to address this growth in a high quality, resilient, sustainable and accessible way,” said Rob Basch, President, Hunters Point Parks Conservancy. “Over the last decade we have had too many stops and starts on potential plans that have led to piecemeal development. It is time to finally get something done that will take advantage of all the opportunities LIC offers and benefit all community members.”

“Building new homes near transit and job centers is essential to addressing the housing shortage and fostering a more equitable, sustainable city,” said Annemarie Gray, Executive Director of Open New York. “Open New York members have participated in the public engagement process of the Long Island City neighborhood plan from the start, and we look forward to being part of the next phase of the process now that the draft plan is public.”

“Long Island City has long been in need of a comprehensive rezoning plan that creates much needed affordable housing, waterfront resiliency efforts, open space for the community, opportunities for local businesses to grow, and thousands of jobs for residents. Throughout the past year, the Department of City Planning and Council Member Julie Won have been committed to engaging local stakeholders and gathering feedback to ensure community priorities were at the center of any rezoning plan. Now, with a proposal that includes 14,000 new homes, 4,000 affordable units, and millions of square feet of new commercial space, the Building Congress is proud to support the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan. This rezoning proposal is a perfect example of how our city can advance crucial development goals while improving quality of life for the community. On behalf of our members who will build these new structures, I look forward to getting the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan across the finish line,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., President & CEO, New York Building Congress.

“LIC has needed a new comprehensive plan for some time based on failed mixed results from prior zonings more than twenty years ago. While specific infrastructure investments and details are emerging, the leadership of Councilwoman Won to engage disparate, varied parts of the community and work with the City has been very meaningful, and we hope will bring overdue holistic public improvements and funding to the fastest growing neighborhood in America,” said Frank Wu, President, Court Square Civic Association.

In addition to the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan, DCP is advancing four other transformative neighborhood initiatives across the city. Elsewhere in Queens, two weeks ago, DCP released the draft scope of work for the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, which would enable nearly 12,000 new homes. In the East Bronx, the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan is advancing through ULURP, and is scheduled for a vote at the City Planning Commission tomorrow, June 26. In Brooklyn, the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan (AAMUP) is undergoing environmental review, and together with Council Members Hudson and Ossé, DCP is hosting a public realm open house on June 29th. In Manhattan, DCP is working with local stakeholders and community members to gather community input on the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan.

In addition to these neighborhood plans, the Adams administration is taking significant action to combat the city’s housing and affordability crisis. City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the most pro-housing set of zoning changes ever proposed in New York City, is currently undergoing public review and is anticipated to come for a vote by the City Council before the end of the year. The administration also recently implemented two critical tools to incentivize mixed-income rental development and office conversions, less than two months after securing them in the state budget. It is also cutting red tape to speed up the delivery of much-needed housing with the Green Fast Track, which streamlines environmental review for climate-friendly housing, the Office Conversion Accelerator, and other initiatives of the Building and Land Use Approval Streamlining Taskforce.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.