By Forum Staff
The City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and Committee on Land Use on Thursday voted to approve the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, NYC’s largest neighborhood rezoning in over 20 years, that is projected to deliver nearly 12,000 new homes, including nearly 4,200 permanently affordable homes in Southeast Queens.
Highlights of the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan include:
New Housing
- Approximately 11,800 new homes, including 4,175 permanently affordable units
- Maps the largest MIH zone in New York City, enabling the creation of 3,778 affordable homes on private sites
Tenants and Homeowners
- Homeowner Help Desk to provide assistance for homeowners on foreclosure prevention, tax liens, deed theft, and repairs.
- HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program to support first-time homebuyers with up to $100,000 towards their down payment.
- Partners in Preservation program to support tenant organizing and combatting displacement
- Providing faith-based organizations with technical assistance to advance affordable housing projects
Water and Sewer Infrastructure
- $315 million, secured through the City for All housing plan, to upgrade the area’s sewer infrastructure over the coming decades.
- $14.8 million to pursue targeted green infrastructure projects throughout Jamaica
- $7 million to support local community facilities with basement reconstruction projects to address flood prevention
- $16 million in CUNY funding for projects to mitigate York College’s ongoing groundwater intrusion challenges
- As part of Local Law 87 of 2025, a Southeast Queens Flooding Adaptation Task Force will be established to better assist flood mitigation efforts and increase support for residents affected by flooding in Southeast Queens.
Transportation and Public Realm
- $78 million to renovate Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 168th Place to improve pedestrian experiences and add new public realm improvements.
- $70 million to improve sidewalks and medians, upgrade lighting, and strengthen conditions along Merrick Boulevard.
- $17.9 million to create a new public plaza on the western end of the Archer Avenue bus terminal in an area currently overrun by illegally parked cars.
- $5.75 million to remove the Archer Avenue bus terminal canopy and install new bus shelters
- $3 million to beautify the Archer Avenue Bus Terminal with community-driven public art
- $700,000 to conduct a comprehensive Jamaica areawide traffic study, including Jamaica Avenue, Merrick Boulevard, and Hillside Avenue.
- $13 million to reconstruct 165th Street between Jamaica Avenue and 89th Avenue into a shared street for pedestrians and business delivery access.
- $47 million to develop Station Plaza, new public spaces that will dramatically improve the environment along Archer Avenue, as well as improve traffic flow, pedestrian safety, reduce traffic congestion, and upgrade lighting, signage, and wayfinding.
- Install safety improvements on Liberty Avenue between Merrick Boulevard and Sutphin Boulevard.
- Upgrade streetscape at 150th Street and Liberty Avenue.
Parks and Open Spaces
- $21 million to improve four areas within Archie Spigner Park
- $17.5 million to improve Rufus King Park and over $8 million to restore the King Manor Museum, including a new accessible entrance, modify landscape, and restore its period rooms and exterior facade.
- Over $10 million to reconstruct the synthetic turf field, track, bleachers, tennis court pavements, play equipment, spray showers, seating, and add green infrastructure at Detective Keith Williams Park
- Over $10 million to deliver a new track and synthetic turf field, renew the paths, and reconstruct the 157th Street Playground play area at Baisley Pond Park
- Over $10 million to reconstruct Dr. Charles Drew Playground
- $8.8 million to reconstruct the pathways at Captain Tilly Park
- $7 million to renovate the bathrooms at Marconi Park
- $3.8 million to create a new park at 142nd Street and 107th Avenue
- $2.1 million to create a new park at 138th Street and Van Wyck Expressway
- $900,000 to replace the roof at Prospect Cemetery’s Chapel of the Sisters
Public Health and Safety
- $70 million to advance the hospital expansion of the NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens’ Claire Shulman Pavilion
- $7.3 million to establish a Queens Neighborhood Health Action Center at the DOHMH building on Parsons Boulevard in Downtown Jamaica to help reduce health inequities and improve health outcomes.
- $1.2 million per year to establish a new Trauma Recovery Center in Downtown Jamaica, the first of its kind in Queens to improve public safety by providing innovative victim services.
Community and Cultural Institutions
- $16 million to redevelop the South Jamaica Multi-Service Center to build a new community center and up to 250 affordable new homes
- $9.4 million to upgrade the elevators at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL)
- $7.2 million to renovate the Jamaica Performing Arts Center’s (JPAC) outdoor space
- Increase JCAL’s baselined operating funding by $83,336, including a one-time allocation of $92,388
- Relocate the Allen AME Theodora Jackson Older Adult Center to better meet the center’s needs
- Explore the redevelopment of the Harvest Room and Jamaica Market
Public and Higher Educatio
- $30 million to the School Construction Authority (SCA) for capital improvements at local schools, such as renovations to gyms, playgrounds, auditoriums, and science labs
- $15 million to continue the development of a Queens Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Center, the first of its kind in Queens.
- $5.75 million to upgrade York College’s campus, including its Academic Core Building.
- $5.7 million to reopen the 159th Street Underpass and improve the Union Street Underpass near York College
- Monitor the need and a commitment to fund the acquisition of a site for a new elementary school.
Quality of Life
- Study street lighting under key Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) underpasses
- Targeted DSNY outreach and campaign against illegal dumping
- $120,000 baselined annually for enhanced DSNY services
Economic Opportunity and Workforce Development
- $200,000 per year for five years for small business and workforce training programs targeted to Jamaica businesses and residents.
- Commitment from Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to review whether any contracts for Jamaica area commercial hotels can be returned for tourism uses.
“Today’s vote to advance the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan represents meaningful progress toward addressing New York City’s affordable housing crisis,” said Councilman Rafael Salamanca, Jr., chairman of the Committee on Land Use.
