UPDATE: The City Council has just approved a groundbreaking rezoning plan for Jamaica, Queens, with a unanimous 47-0 vote that will transform a staggering 230-block area. This ambitious initiative is set to pave the way for 12,000 new homes, including 4,000 affordable units, and is the largest rezoning in New York City in over two decades.
City lawmakers emphasized that this plan will not only increase housing but also enhance local infrastructure and create more than 7,000 jobs. The changes will introduce 2 million square feet of new commercial space, parks, and playgrounds, while also upgrading sewers and transit systems critical for the community.
“This is about building a Jamaica that is walkable, vibrant, and thriving,” stated Councilmember Nantasha Williams, who represents the area and led the initiative. “The Jamaica neighborhood plan is more than a rezoning; it’s a reinvestment in our people and neighborhoods.”
Despite the enthusiasm from city officials, the plan faced pushback from local community boards, with both Queens’ Community Board 8 and Community Board 12 opposing the rezoning earlier this year. Concerns about the potential influx of new residents overwhelming local transit and fears of rising rents that could displace longtime residents and small businesses were prevalent among community members.
Mayor Eric Adams praised the Council’s decision, stating, “For too long, the neighborhood’s outdated zoning code has made it harder to do both—build new housing and create new jobs.” He further noted that Jamaica’s strategic location near JFK Airport makes it a prime candidate for growth and development.
City planning officials, including Dan Garodnick, director of the Department of City Planning, underscored the necessity of these changes. “Jamaica has long been one of the most bustling commercial and transit hubs in the city, but outdated zoning has held this neighborhood back,” he explained. “Today we start the process of changing all of that.”
As the rezoning takes effect, residents and local businesses will need to adapt to the forthcoming changes. City officials are expected to monitor the impact closely to ensure that the benefits of this transformation are realized without displacing the existing community.
The urgency of this development cannot be overstated. Jamaica is on the brink of a significant transformation that could redefine the neighborhood for generations to come. Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding story that promises to reshape the future of Jamaica, Queens.
