A rezoning plan for Long Island City opens up prime waterfront land for residential development, but some critics say new housing could be prone to flooding and should be built farther inland.
The New York City Council approved a rezoning plan for Long Island City that could lead to 15,000 new apartments in formerly industrial areas, reports Jeanmarie Evelly in City Limits.
“The so-called OneLIC plan will update zoning rules for 54 blocks near the East River waterfront, including along Anable Basin (the inlet where retail giant Amazon once planned its controversial “HQ2” offices.)” The plan is expected to yield around 4,350 income-restricted units, a requirement put in place by the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) rules.
According to Evelly, “The deal also includes $650 million for a range of local projects, including funds for a new waterfront esplanade, sewer upgrades, and repairs at the nearby NYCHA Queensbridge Houses.” The Long Island City rezoning is the fifth approved by the Council under the Adams administration and the second in Queens.
Some residents are calling for a different vision of the waterfront, saying that any new housing too close to the water would be prone to flooding. “But city officials argue the rezoning area has been held back by outdated rules that restrict new housing in a neighborhood that’s prime for more homes, pointing to its proximity to Manhattan and access to multiple subway and bus lines.”
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