Earlier this week the New York City Department of City Planning revealed a draft of the new zoning framework for the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan. Developed from community input gathered over the past six months, the plan is designed to foster housing and economic growth, and also plans to improve public spaces and make critical infrastructure enhancements across more than 300 blocks in Jamaica, Queens.
Presented at a working group summit at York College by Department of City Planning director Dan Garodnick, the draft framework divides the study area into distinct zones: Downtown Core, Downtown Extension, Transit Corridors, and Industrial Core, Transition, and Growth areas. The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan stands at the forefront of what is expected to be a new wave of developments aligned with the $1 billion LifeSci NYC initiative. The plan emphasizes not just housing opportunities but also aims to boost the local economy, leveraging Jamaica’s status as a transportation hub.
Area for the draft zoning framework on the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan study area, courtesy of New York City
The draft reflects input from over 1,128 survey responses and insights from in-person workshops and a steering committee. It proposes the use of Mandatory Inclusionary Housing to create affordable housing, encourages mixed-use developments, supports job growth in industrial zones, and aims to enhance pedestrian safety and transit access.
“There are few neighborhoods in New York City that can offer the same level of vibrancy, economic activity, transportation, culture, diversity, and potential as Jamaica,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Everyone who either lives here, works here, or plays here knows the limitless potential of this community, potential the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan is in the early stages of unlocking.
“This draft zoning framework puts to paper what hundreds of Jamaica residents have called for during our series of community-centric workshops: more affordable housing, more jobs, more public space, and better transit. There are still many more conversations to be had with our neighbors to fine tune this plan, however, and I look forward to working with our city and community partners alike to do just that over the next few months.”
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These demands all have their merits and it will definitely happen, so it’s a big opportunity for zoning on powerful community: Thanks.