The OneLIC Neighborhood Plan got the green light from the New York City Council on Wednesday, likely the final Eric Adams-era rezoning before Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is sworn in on Jan. 1.<\/p>\n
The rezoning allows developers to build approximately 14,700 homes in Long Island City, Queens, as well as 3.5 million square feet of commercial and industrial space.<\/p>\n
SEE ALSO: NYC Developers Avoid Larger Housing Projects Due to Wage Mandate: REBNY<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWith our five neighborhood plans and historic \u2018City of Yes\u2019 initiative all passed, we\u2019ve laid the foundation for over 130,000 homes and changed the conversation around housing in our city,\u201d Adams said in a statement. \u201cThe OneLIC plan is not only the largest neighborhood rezoning in at least a quarter of a century, but a plan that will deliver the housing, jobs and public space this vibrant neighborhood needs, while creating a more affordable city for working-class New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n OneLIC is the first rezoning of the neighborhood since 2001, when a business-related rezoning created an accidental housing boom that left manufacturing districts intact where there wasn\u2019t enough demand. The new rezoning faces challenges from shortfalls in the 485x program, which allows developers to pay construction workers $16 per hour for developments under 99 units, as opposed to prevailing wages for larger projects.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing the [2001] rezoning, many blocks remained zoned for manufacturing \u2014 notwithstanding a clear lack of industrial business or employment,\u201d Mitch Korbey, chair of land use and zoning practice group at Herrick Feinstein<\/a>, said in a statement. \u201cUnfortunately, the 485x tax abatement program\u2019s labor requirements will result in many developments capping out at 99 units \u2014 leading to inefficiencies and likely fewer affordable units than otherwise would be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Mamdani backed the rezoning despite his opposition to Innovation QNS, a proposed $2 billion development for more than 3,000 housing units that was approved by City Council in 2022<\/a> but scrapped by the developers in September<\/a>. Both proposals fall in his State Assembly district.<\/p>\n The rezoning also had the backing of housing advocacy groups, including those that also supported the Charter Revision Commission\u2018s ballot initiatives that were adopted by voters on Nov. 4<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter an inclusive, two-year public process, the OneLIC plan delivers urgently needed new homes and opens more of the Long Island City waterfront to everyone,\u201d Andrew Fine, chief of staff and policy director at Open New York, said in a statement. \u201cThe proposal earned broad support from neighbors, winning endorsements from both local community boards and a supermajority of speakers at the council hearing this fall. In a city where rezonings of this scale are all too rare, Long Island City is fortunate to have Councilmember Julie Won prioritizing thousands of homes that the community and the city need.\u201d<\/p>\n