Bloomberg Gives East Midtown Rezoning One Last Push, But Will City Council Budge?

After rezoning 37 percent of New York City, Mayor Bloomberg is pursuing one last major rezoning plan before he leaves office. But will a lame duck Council speaker and her colleagues grant the mayor a final victory?

1 minute read

October 23, 2013, 5:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Claims of infrastructure overload and indifference to the needs of the public realm and preservation have dogged the Bloomberg administration's plans to upzone the area around Grand Central Terminal since it was proposed more than a year ago. Nevertheless, "[t]he Bloomberg administration is scrambling to gather enough City Council votes to enact the mayor’s final plan for reshaping New York City’s skyline with a new generation of ever-taller skyscrapers," reports Charles V. Bagli. 

"Many leading figures in the real estate industry, and many construction unions, support the plan, as does the Regional Plan Association, an influential private research organization. But a broad array of Manhattan community boards, preservationists and elected officials contend that the rezoning has been rushed, and could overwhelm a neighborhood whose streets are already congested and subway lines overcrowded."

"Robert Steel, the deputy mayor for economic development, insists that the administration is making headway," says Bagli. "But so far, opponents have not been persuaded."

Monday, October 21, 2013 in The New York Times

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.