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Council vote opens way for reshaping Queens

By David Freedlander, amNewYork Staff Writer | dfreedlander@am-ny.com

September 11, 2007

The City Council overwhelmingly passed the largest rezoning in New York City's history Monday, voting to radically reshape Jamaica in eastern Queens.

The 368-block plan, which spans across four councilmembers' districts, allows for hotels and office towers in downtown Jamaica, permits six-story buildings along Hillside Avenue and restricts development in some residential areas.

"To have the biggest rezoning in the history of the city not be in Manhattan but be in Queens sends an important message," said Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a major backer, along with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, of the new rules.

"It shows that the City Council is looking to support and help and energize all five boroughs."

The council voted 45-3 in favor of the rezoning after months of negotiation with community leaders. Still, two of the no votes were from councilmembers whose districts will be directly impacted by the rezoning.

Opponents of the rezoning say the plan will add too much density to an area whose trains and other infrastructure are already strained.

"We have developers coming by to people's homes where they have lived for 50 years and saying, 'Name your price,'" said councilman David Weprin (D-Hollis).

"The subways can't support [more people], you already can't get a seat on the train, the schools are overcrowded and we have major drainage problems."

Councilman James F. Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), worried that the worst effects were yet to come if the rest of the mayor's agenda gets enacted.

"Once congestion pricing comes, neighborhoods that are at the end of the subway line will become like parking lots," he said of Jamaica, which is a terminus for the E,F, J and Z trains. "I needed to draw a line in the sand and say I can't support this plan."

Supporters of the rezoning hope to transform Jamaica into a transportation and retail hub, taking advantage of its close proximity to the AirTrain and the Long Island Rail Road.

The neighborhood was once the city's fourth largest shopping district, but has been transformed during the past three decades into vacant strip malls, discount stores, and nail salons.

Backers promise that the rezoning will add 3 million square feet of office space, 9,500 jobs and 5,200 housing units.

"This rezoning effort will help transform and revitalize downtown Jamaica into a vibrant economic engine," said Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) a supporter of the legislation. "The Jamaica plan will bring not only jobs but hope."

Others however worried that the city was rezoning the area on the backs of those who will be most effected by it.

"The rezoning was at the request of the community, but then the Department of City Planning turned around to make it more about citywide needs than the community's needs," said Tony Avella (D-Bayside).

"A lot of people have put a lot of work into this but City Planning said we'll do a little bit of modification but then we'll do what we want."