NYC’s plan to add 14,700 new homes to Long Island City enters public review

New York City has launched the public review for a Long Island City rezoning plan that could bring roughly 14,700 new homes to the Queens neighborhood. Certified by the Department of City Planning on Monday, the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan looks to rezone a 54-block stretch along the waterfront that has largely remained industrial to allow for more homes, including at least 4,000 income-restricted units. The proposal would mark the most housing units created from a rezoning in 25 years, according to the city.

While Long Island City has seen a tremendous amount of development in the last two decades, parts of the neighborhood have remained underutilized, with current zoning rules restricting any new housing.

As 6sqft reported last year, the plan updates zoning to allow for high-density mixed residential, commercial, and light industrial uses along the waterfront, from 46th Road, south of Anable Basin to 44th Avenue.

High- and medium-density mixed-use residential, commercial, and light-manufacturing buildings would be permitted north of the Queensboro Bridge, between 21st and 23rd Streets. On 44th Drive, the rezoning would allow for medium-density residential, commercial, and light-manufacturing developments.

The proposal would also implement Mandatory Inclusionary Housing for the first time in the neighborhood, which would require 20 to 30 percent of new homes be permanently income-restricted and affordable. According to the city, the 4,000 income-restricted homes could house about 10,000 New Yorkers.

The city plans to also redevelop three city-owned sites near Anable Basin: 44-36 Vernon Boulevard, 4-99 44th Drive, and 44-59 45th Avenue. This area includes where Amazon tried and failed to build a headquarters in 2019.

“With its central location, great transit access, and diverse economic base, Long Island City is exactly the kind of place where we should add new homes,” DCP Director and CPC Chair Garodnick said.

“This plan updates zoning in parts of the neighborhood still limited by outdated and restrictive rules, allowing more housing and jobs while creating a more accessible and resilient waterfront. These thoughtful changes, along with significant neighborhood investments, can set Long Island City on the path towards a more affordable, equitable, and prosperous future.”

The city said the plan would create over 3.5 million square feet of commercial and industrial space, leading to 14,400 new jobs.

The rezoning proposal calls for a connected and accessible waterfront from Gantry Plaza State Park to Queensbridge Park. The city would update the Hunters Point North Waterfront Access Plan to require all waterfront sites contribute to a publicly accessible waterfront.

The plan comes after a two-year engagment process that includeed 15 public meetings with 1,600 particpants. OneLIC will now begin a seven-month uniform land use review procedure, with reviews by community boards, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the City Planning Commission, and the City Council. A special hearing on the plan will be hosted at LaGuaardia Community College on May 21.

“I will fight to ensure the final OneLIC Neighborhood Plan delivers resiliency, sustainability, and longevity, through commitments on deeply affordable housing, pathways to affordable home ownership, thousands of additional school seats, a connected waterfront, new green spaces, and more,” Council Member Julie Won, who represents the neighborhood, said.

OneLIC is the fifth neighborhood plan under Adams to enter the public review process. Others include Midtown South, Jamaica, Atlantic Avenue, and Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan.

RELATED:

• 14,000 new homes projected for Long Island City under rezoning draft
• NYC to redevelop Long Island City site once proposed for Amazon’s HQ2