Rendering of proposed upgrades to Parsons Boulevard underneath the brand new “Jamaica Neighborhood Plan.” .
Courtesy of NYC DOT
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Mayor Eric Adams has introduced the beginning of the general public evaluation ULURP course of for the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, an bold proposal to rezone a good portion of Downtown Jamaica and ship 1000’s of properties and 1000’s of jobs to an space that has confronted many years of disinvestment.
Adams introduced the start of the ULURP course of for the neighborhood plan alongside New York Metropolis Division of Metropolis Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick on Thursday afternoon, stating that the plan would carry a whole lot of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in funding to Jamaica.
Adams acknowledged that the neighborhood plan requires zoning adjustments to permit for 12,000 new properties in a 230-block space of Jamaica, together with 4,000 completely reasonably priced income-restricted properties.
Advocates for the neighborhood plan acknowledged that it might additionally increase business and industrial area within the space, creating roughly 7,000 new jobs and financial alternatives for native residents by creating roughly two million sq. toes of economic and neighborhood area.
Adams additionally pointed to strategic investments included within the plan, together with $300 million for sewer enhancements, transit entry, open area, job coaching and help for cultural establishments and faith-based organizations.
The Mayor spoke of the significance of offering Jamaica residents with high quality, reasonably priced housing, stating that housing represents “the foundation needed to achieve the American Dream.”
Mayor Eric Adams throughout an in-person media availability. Metropolis Corridor. Monday, March 17, 2025.Credit score: Ed Reed/Mayoral Pictures Workplace.
“For the residents of Jamaica, we’re one step closer to making that dream a reality for generations to come,” Adams stated in an announcement. “Jamaica is on the precipice of becoming a neighborhood of the future with good-paying jobs, affordable homes, and public spaces for families to enjoy.”
Garodnick, alternatively, acknowledged that it’s “simply not acceptable” {that a} neighborhood corresponding to Jamaica needs to be constrained by a scarcity of housing and funding, particularly when it’s served by such distinctive public transportation choices. As residence to JFK Worldwide Airport, Jamaica is related to the town by a number of subway traces, whereas Jamaica Station serves as a significant hub for the Lengthy Island Railroad.
“This plan will change that by providing housing, economic opportunities, and infrastructure upgrades that will help the neighborhood grow and thrive into the future,” Garodnick acknowledged.
Garodnick added that the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan was developed following a sturdy collaborative course of that engaged members of the area people and inspired native residents to stay engaged with the plan because it proceeds by ULURP.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who final month acknowledged that Jamaica has confronted disinvestment for many years, acknowledged that the neighborhood plan will assist unlock the “limitless potential” of Jamaica.
“This zoning framework will unlock just that in the form of thousands of new homes, new jobs, and new opportunities for local families and visitors alike,” Richards acknowledged.
Member Dr. Nantansha Williams. Credit score: Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit
Council Member Dr. Nantansha Williams, who represents components of Jamaica in Council District 27, stated the neighborhood plan represents a “historic opportunity” for Jamaica. She additionally outlined plans to introduce an oversight job power to make sure that the neighborhood plan tackles points corresponding to sanitation and public security.
“This plan has the potential to create affordable homes, support small businesses, and upgrade infrastructure,” Williams stated. “To ensure investments address quality-of-life concerns, I look forward to incorporating an Oversight Task Force to ensure the plans success, tackle quality-of-life issues like sanitation, public safety, and transit over the coming decade as part of the plan.”
Adams officers acknowledged that the start of the ULURP course of marks a big step towards constructing a extra reasonably priced Jamaica for working-class residents. Officers pointed to 2 years of in depth public engagement and stated the plan is tailor-made to create new housing and financial alternatives that respect the character of the neighborhood. The town stated it hosted greater than 40 digital and in-person public conferences on the topic, soliciting suggestions from 1000’s of native residents.
Along with the 12,000 new properties, the town has dedicated to financing reasonably priced properties on public lands and constructing practically 120 income-restricted properties throughout 5 city-owned websites alongside Man R. Brewer Boulevard and Union Corridor Avenue.
The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan contains zoning adjustments for a “Downtown Core” alongside Jamaica and Archer Avenues, permitting for high-density mixed-use developments with completely reasonably priced housing, energetic ground-floor retail, and neighborhood companies.
The plan moreover contains zoning adjustments for Transit Corridors within the space, encouraging mixed-use, mid-rise developments alongside Hillside Avenue, western Jamaica Avenue, Liberty Avenue, Sutphin Boulevard, Man R. Brewer Boulevard, and Merrick Boulevard. The zoning adjustments would additionally introduce regionally serving retail and neighborhood amenities.
Adams officers acknowledged that zoning adjustments to “South Core,” an space to the south of Jamaica Station and the Jamaica Middle—Parsons/Archer subway station, would carry new housing to the world for the primary time in over 60 years. The adjustments would additionally encourage business and lightweight manufacturing close to the world’s transit sources.
Manufacturing zoning launched in Jamaica’s “Industrial Growth Area” would help new employment and native enterprise, Adams officers stated.
