Queens Council Approves Major Land-Use Changes for Long Island City, Paving Way for Thousands of New Homes and Affordable Units.
The Queens City Council has voted to approve a sweeping rezoning plan for Long Island City, paving the way for nearly 15,000 new homes and more than 8,000 affordable units in one of the city's most rapidly changing neighborhoods. The plan, known as OneLIC, would create an integrated Long Island City with a mix of housing, commercial, and community spaces.
The rezoning comes on the heels of another major Queens rezoning approved last month for Jamaica, which aimed to build nearly 27,000 new homes and more than 8,000 affordable units. Together, these two rezonings would transform five neighborhoods across the city into hubs of development under outgoing Mayor Eric Adams' housing agenda.
While supporters argue that the plan will create a thriving community with ample amenities, opponents say it doesn't go far enough in ensuring affordable housing for long-time residents and small business owners. Local activists expressed concerns about gentrification, displacement, and the lack of community input in the planning process.
The OneLIC plan promises to address some of these concerns, including $900 million in community benefits, which would fund infrastructure improvements, public housing repairs, and new open spaces under the Queensboro Bridge. However, critics warn that these concessions are just a drop in the bucket compared to the needs of the long-time residents and small business owners.
Long Island City has been at the forefront of this transformation, with some residents warning that the construction of more high-rises would hasten the displacement of longstanding tenants and businesses. Local activist Lashawn "Suga Ray" Marston expressed concerns about the influx of new families into the area, which he fears would lead to cultural clashes and conflicts.
Despite these concerns, city officials are optimistic about the plan's potential for Long Island City. As Julie Won, a local Council member, said in a statement, the rezoning will create an "integrated Long Island City" where residents can envision their future together.
The passage of the OneLIC plan marks one of the biggest neighborhood rezonings in the city in more than two decades. With this move, New York City is poised to see significant growth and development across its five target neighborhoods.
The Queens City Council has voted to approve a sweeping rezoning plan for Long Island City, paving the way for nearly 15,000 new homes and more than 8,000 affordable units in one of the city's most rapidly changing neighborhoods. The plan, known as OneLIC, would create an integrated Long Island City with a mix of housing, commercial, and community spaces.
The rezoning comes on the heels of another major Queens rezoning approved last month for Jamaica, which aimed to build nearly 27,000 new homes and more than 8,000 affordable units. Together, these two rezonings would transform five neighborhoods across the city into hubs of development under outgoing Mayor Eric Adams' housing agenda.
While supporters argue that the plan will create a thriving community with ample amenities, opponents say it doesn't go far enough in ensuring affordable housing for long-time residents and small business owners. Local activists expressed concerns about gentrification, displacement, and the lack of community input in the planning process.
The OneLIC plan promises to address some of these concerns, including $900 million in community benefits, which would fund infrastructure improvements, public housing repairs, and new open spaces under the Queensboro Bridge. However, critics warn that these concessions are just a drop in the bucket compared to the needs of the long-time residents and small business owners.
Long Island City has been at the forefront of this transformation, with some residents warning that the construction of more high-rises would hasten the displacement of longstanding tenants and businesses. Local activist Lashawn "Suga Ray" Marston expressed concerns about the influx of new families into the area, which he fears would lead to cultural clashes and conflicts.
Despite these concerns, city officials are optimistic about the plan's potential for Long Island City. As Julie Won, a local Council member, said in a statement, the rezoning will create an "integrated Long Island City" where residents can envision their future together.
The passage of the OneLIC plan marks one of the biggest neighborhood rezonings in the city in more than two decades. With this move, New York City is poised to see significant growth and development across its five target neighborhoods.
. On one hand, I get why ppl wanna see more affordable housing units in Long Island City – it's a super desirable area with rising rents 
. But at the same time, I can see how some long-time residents and small business owners are worried about being priced out 
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. The $900 million in community benefits sounds like a good start, but it's gotta be more than just a Band-Aid solution 
. We need to see real progress on supporting small businesses and long-time residents who've been there for decades 
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... And have you seen the pics of those high-rises going up everywhere? It's like a tidal wave of development coming for them 
... I guess only time will tell if this plan really works out for Long Island City 
. But at the same time, I'm worried about those long-time residents and small business owners who might get pushed out by gentrification 
. The $900 million in community benefits sounds nice, but it's not going to make up for losing their homes and businesses. And what about all the new families moving in? Will they fit in with the existing community or will it be a clash of cultures 
? I just wish there was more input from locals on how this plan should unfold 
but at the same time I got my concerns too... 
I'm so hopeful about this OneLIC plan 
. 15,000 new homes and 8,000 affordable units is a game-changer 
. I know some people are worried about gentrification, but the $900 million in community benefits seems like a solid effort to address those concerns 
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. The thought of so many new families coming in and changing the vibe of the neighborhood is just scary 
. $900 million in community benefits sounds nice, but what does that really mean for someone like my kid's friend? It just doesn't seem like enough 
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And 8,000 affordable units? Please, that's just a drop in the bucket for all the low-income families getting priced out of the area. The community benefits are cute, but let's be real, it's just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. And what's with the optimism from city officials? They're not thinking about the long-term effects of gentrification and displacement. I guess if you want to cater to the hipsters and Yuppies, then go for it, but don't expect me to be all smiles about it... 
15,000 new homes and 8,000 affordable units, that's a lot of people moving in. I hope the city is prepared for all the changes that come with it... or maybe we should just say "the good old days" when it was quieter? 
. I mean, I get why they wanna do this - Long Island City is already super trendy and it's only gonna keep getting more expensive. But what about the people who've been living there for years? Won't all these new developments just push 'em out? 
. And what about community input? You'd think that $900m in community benefits would be, like, a lot more than just "a drop in the bucket" 
. One can only hope that these long-time residents and small business owners won't get left behind in all the chaos 
.