City Planning Commissioner Amanda M. Burden yesterday announced the beginning of public review for the South Jamaica rezoning in Queens, the Bloomberg administration's largest rezoning to date.
The proposed 530-block rezoning would protect the predominant lower-density character of the area and also provide opportunities for new housing and businesses to strengthen the area's wider corridors.
In addition, it would apply zoning incentives for the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health, or FRESH, program to South Jamaica. FRESH provides zoning and financial incentives for grocery stores to locate in some of the most underserved neighborhoods in the City.
The rezoning responds to residents' and elected officials' concerns about out-of-character development on residential blocks, and a local civic association called One Block At A Time was formed specifically to partner with City Planning on this important initiative.
"Since 2002, we have rezoned more than 5,000 blocks in Queens. We have replaced antiquated zoning with fine-grained plans that are tailored to fit each unique neighborhood, and we are continuing this practice in South Jamaica, our largest rezoning," said Commissioner Burden.
"Not only will this rezoning protect the many blocks lined with one- and two-family homes in South Jamaica, it will bring the innovative and critically important FRESH program to the neighborhood. By providing incentives for new and expanded full-line grocery stores, FRESH promotes healthy lifestyles and provides more access to fresh produce for residents, which will combat the twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes.
The rezoning area is located in the southern and western portions of Queens Community District 12. The rezoning area is generally bounded by Liberty Avenue, 108th Avenue and South Road to the north; Merrick and Springfield Boulevards to the east; North Conduit Avenue to the south; and the Van Wyck Expressway to the west.
The proposal builds on the success of the Department's earlier rezonings in Community District 12, including Jamaica (adopted in 2007), St. Albans/Hollis (adopted in 2007) and Springfield Gardens (adopted in 2005).
Along portions of wider corridors in the area - including Sutphin, Merrick, and Rockaway Boulevards, where retail and services currently exist - the proposal would establish moderate-density districts to encourage appropriately-scaled new housing and businesses in these locations. The rezoning would establish contextual building height limits (between 30 and 40 feet) and also reduce the depths of the commercial overlays on these streets to prevent commercial uses from encroaching on residential blocks.
The proposed 530-block rezoning would protect the predominant lower-density character of the area and also provide opportunities for new housing and businesses to strengthen the area's wider corridors.
In addition, it would apply zoning incentives for the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health, or FRESH, program to South Jamaica. FRESH provides zoning and financial incentives for grocery stores to locate in some of the most underserved neighborhoods in the City.
The rezoning responds to residents' and elected officials' concerns about out-of-character development on residential blocks, and a local civic association called One Block At A Time was formed specifically to partner with City Planning on this important initiative.
"Since 2002, we have rezoned more than 5,000 blocks in Queens. We have replaced antiquated zoning with fine-grained plans that are tailored to fit each unique neighborhood, and we are continuing this practice in South Jamaica, our largest rezoning," said Commissioner Burden.
"Not only will this rezoning protect the many blocks lined with one- and two-family homes in South Jamaica, it will bring the innovative and critically important FRESH program to the neighborhood. By providing incentives for new and expanded full-line grocery stores, FRESH promotes healthy lifestyles and provides more access to fresh produce for residents, which will combat the twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes.
The rezoning area is located in the southern and western portions of Queens Community District 12. The rezoning area is generally bounded by Liberty Avenue, 108th Avenue and South Road to the north; Merrick and Springfield Boulevards to the east; North Conduit Avenue to the south; and the Van Wyck Expressway to the west.
The proposal builds on the success of the Department's earlier rezonings in Community District 12, including Jamaica (adopted in 2007), St. Albans/Hollis (adopted in 2007) and Springfield Gardens (adopted in 2005).
Along portions of wider corridors in the area - including Sutphin, Merrick, and Rockaway Boulevards, where retail and services currently exist - the proposal would establish moderate-density districts to encourage appropriately-scaled new housing and businesses in these locations. The rezoning would establish contextual building height limits (between 30 and 40 feet) and also reduce the depths of the commercial overlays on these streets to prevent commercial uses from encroaching on residential blocks.
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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