The residential construction boom in Long Island City may continue for much longer as the city mulls over a potential rezoning to allow more high-rise apartment buildings in the neighborhood.
City Hall is considering up-zoning an area covering about 100 blocks, which includes the Queens Plaza and Court Square sections, to promote more residential buildings, including many with mixed-income units, to combat the affordable housing crisis in the city, according to a published report.
The plan has support from some in the community, but also draws concern about upgrading public amenities for current residents, such as transportation and schools, before bringing in more people. Even without the up-zoning, thousands of new residents will be coming to Long Island City in the near future.
There are already about 20,000 units under construction in the neighborhood, business advocacy group Long Island City Partnership told the Wall Street Journal.
Other community leaders feel it could further diminish the shrinking manufacturing sector in the burgeoning neighborhood and put pressure on the balance the community is trying to maintain.
The LIC Partnership will conduct its own planning study, focusing on how to balance business, residential, tech and industrial growth in the area in years to come.
The New York City Regional Development Economic Council awarded a $100,000 grant for the study and subsequent plan that will be created from it.
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