OneLIC is second of city’s two largest neighborhood rezonings in over two decades approved by Council that has consistently prioritized creating new homes for New Yorkers

Historic investments in housing, NYCHA, open space and public schools are result of community-driven planning and negotiations led by the Council for the Queens neighborhood

City Hall, NY – Today, the New York City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and Committee on Land Use voted to approve the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan, a historic neighborhood rezoning that will deliver nearly 15,000 new homes in Long Island City, Queens. Through the mapping of Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) affordability requirements and the development of publicly owned sites, the plan is anticipated to create 4,350 units of permanently affordable homes. It is the second of two of the largest neighborhood rezonings in over two decades within New York City, approved within weeks of each other by the City Council.

Through the Council’s direct negotiating role in the land use process, the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan will be accompanied by more than $905 million in community investments for Long Island City, with the likelihood for hundreds of millions of dollars in additional investments for new schools and other needs. The secured investments include support for local public housing developments, open space and waterfront esplanade access, transportation and public realm improvements, new and renovated parks, and new public schools.

“To confront the city’s housing crisis, the Council is proud to once again advance another historic neighborhood rezoning in Queens, just weeks apart,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “This plan, shaped and strengthened by community input and the Council’s role in land use negotiations, delivers nearly 15,000 new homes alongside significant investments to improve neighborhood parks, schools, and neighborhood essentials. The level of housing affordability and funding commitments, including for public housing residents, would not have been possible without the Council’s voting power on behalf of communities in the land use process. I thank Council Member Won for her leadership throughout the process to deliver an outstanding plan for her district, Queens, and our entire city.”

“Today’s vote progressing the OneLIC Plan forward brings us one step closer to an integrated Long Island City,” said Council Member Julie Won. “Over the last three decades, the City has allowed developers to dictate what is built in our neighborhood. These past two years, thousands of residents came together to envision our future. Through our advocacy, persistent community engagement, and disciplined negotiations, we have secured a historic investment in LIC, to fund a connected waterfront, a restored park underneath the Queensboro Bridge, over 1,300 new school seats, sewage and plumbing infrastructure, NYCHA investments, and so much more – all that is long overdue. Finally, we will be one Long Island City, for current and future residents.”

“At a time when New York City urgently needs more housing, especially deeply affordable housing, the approval of the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan reinforces this Council’s vision to making housing in the City of New York more accessible and affordable,” said Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Chair of the Committee on Land Use. “Council Member Julie Won’s steadfast commitment to equity and her tireless advocacy for Long Island City residents ensured that this historic rezoning—bringing nearly 15,000 new homes to the neighborhood—advances not just growth, but shared prosperity. Thanks to her work, we are delivering record-setting investments in affordable housing, NYCHA infrastructure, schools, open space, and public amenities. This is what community-driven planning looks like, and I applaud Council Member Won for setting the bar for how we build inclusive and thriving neighborhoods across New York City.”

“As Chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, I’m proud to see the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan move forward as a testament to equitable and forward-thinking planning,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “This plan reflects our commitment to creating affordable housing, expanding good jobs, and investing in waterfront access and climate resiliency. OneLIC demonstrates how we can shape growth that strengthens communities, supports families, and builds a more connected and sustainable New York City.”

The Council secured major investments to support local public housing residents living at NYCHA’s Queensbridge Houses, including $102 million to modernize the complex’s plumbing waste lines and install new infrastructure, $98.3 million in investments for Queensbridge Houses North and South, $6 million to improve the Jacob Riis Community Center, and expediting renovation of vacant public housing units to make them available for residents to reside. To expand parks and open space for local residents, the Council secured $95 million to develop new spaces under the Queensboro Bridge, $30 million in improvements for Queensbridge Park, and $2.3 million to construct a Queensbridge Baby Park.

The OneLIC Neighborhood Plan will create a new waterfront esplanade and advance a plan to unify the waterfront through nearly $90 million in committed funding. The Council also successfully negotiated nearly $60 million in transportation and public realm improvements to the area, making the neighborhood safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters.

To accommodate neighborhood growth, the Council secured nearly $310 million to finish the completion of two new elementary schools and a commitment to acquire privately-owned sites to build more schools to meet the need for more school seats.

An online public tracker to ensure ongoing accountability and transparency on the progress of the investments will be launched in December, with bi-annual updates provided for each commitment, including their funding and timeline of implementation.

Council Member Won led a two-year public engagement process with the Department of City Planning, local elected officials, and community boards to shape the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan to help meet the needs of local residents. Supported by funding from Speaker Adams, the community planning process consisted of large-scale public events, including town halls, focus area meetings, walking tours, community surveys, and mailers, providing information at dozens of community events.

Highlights of the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan include:

New Housing

  • Approximately 14,700 new homes, including 4,350 permanently affordable units

Improvements for NYCHA Residents

  • $102 million over six years to implement the Waste Plumbing Initiative at Queensbridge Houses to ensure modernization of plumbing waste lines, add new hot and cold water lines, renovate chase walls, update bathrooms, install new kitchen cabinets, and remediate mold and abatement of any lead
  • $98.3 million in investments for Queensbridge Houses North and South to replace or repair 80 elevators, fix two sinkholes and an underground water pipe, add new playground space, install new in-building interior compactors, build new bathrooms in property management and staff offices, and install new building interior lighting and fixtures.
  • $5.3 million to improve the Jacob Riis Community Center, including renovations to walls, floors, and rooms, new interior finishes and panting, accessible ramps and stairs for the front entrance, ADA accessible bathrooms, new commercial kitchen equipment, and new sewer lines.
  • $1.9 million to relocate 55 parking spots in Queensbridge Baby Park to allow for the construction of new open space
  • $280,000 to renovate Queensbridge Houses Resident Association Office
  • Develop a new operational wasteyard at Queensbridge Houses South
  • Deploy rat mitigation measures at Queensbridge Houses

Waterfront Esplanade Access

  • $79 million to create a new waterfront esplanade and nearly 2 acres of open space under the Queensboro Bridge
  • $10.9 million to develop and advance a unified master plan for a waterfront esplanade

Transportation and Public Realm

  • $30 million for improvements to 44th Drive corridor to make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and truck drivers.
  • $13 million to improve transportation hub at 21st Street and 41st Avenue, including new bus bulbs, adding a bike path along 21st Street, street furniture, median construction and curb extensions, and secure bike parking facilities
  • $10 million to improve connections to Queens waterfront greenway
  • $1.25 million to conduct a comprehensive lighting study in the Long Island City Industrial Business Zone (IBZ)
  • $700,000 to install new public restroom at Court Square
  • $200,000 to expand current maintenance of Dutch Kills Green
  • Improve pedestrian safety at Queensboro Bridge landing, including the construction of new concrete landing, pedestrian sidewalk connection, medians, and traffic signals
  • Require alternate side parking on Queens Plaza South if feasible

Parks and Open Spaces

  • $95 million to relocate City operations and construct new open space under the Queensboro Bridge
  • $30 million to renew Queensbridge Park, including building a new playground and adult fitness equipment, improvements to the fields and court areas, expanding pathways, building a new destination water play area, upgrading park lighting, and reconstructing restroom facilities
  • $2.3 million to construct Queensbridge Baby Park at 21st Street, and include new landscaping, seating, lighting, and other recreational amenities.
  • $250,000 to study the feasibility of public realm improvements around and under the Queensboro Bridge ramps
  • $50,000 to boost capacity and expand programming for the Hunters Point Park Conservancy
  • Facilitate the redevelopment of Department of Transportation (DOT) ramps sites into public spaces
  • Advance Queens Community Board 2’s Walk to Park site selection
  • Activate schoolyards for local residents

Public Education

  • $176.7 million for the School Construction Authority (SCA) to finish building a 547-seat elementary school in Court Square to open in September 2028
  • $131.4 million for the SCA to complete construction of a new 547-seat elementary school in Hunters Point to open in September 2027
  • Acquire land owned by Plaxall to site a future 600-seat elementary, K-8, or middle school
  • Identify private sites and reach initial agreements with owners to acquire in anticipation of future need for more school seats
  • Develop a new facility to relocate the Baccalaureate School for Global Education to address chronic overcrowding
  • Commitment to update local community on school construction status on a quarterly basis, beginning in 2026

Community and Cultural Institutions

  • $44.8 million in capital and programmatic funds to support arts and cultural organizations
  • $10 million to assess the feasibility and construct a new community center that includes a gym, and subject to funding availability, a swimming pool.
  • $9.1 million to upgrade FDNY Engine 260 to maintain operational readiness
  • $3 million in awards to support arts and cultural organizations through the Greenlight Innovation Fund
  • $1.1 million to renovate the Long Island City YMCA Branch
  • $300,000 over three years to promote small business services in Long Island City, including commercial lease assistance, pro bono legal support, regulatory assistance, and more.

Water and Sewer Infrastructure

  • Perform sewer maintenance and investigate flooding hot-spots to address site-specific issues
  • Complete drainage analysis of Long Island City to determine needed capital improvements

The proposal will return to the City Planning Commission for a scope-based review of modifications by the Council, prior to a vote by the full City Council at a future Stated Meeting.

The Council, under Speaker Adams since 2022, has prioritized the advancement of housing solutions by approving land use proposals that will unlock the creation of over 146,000 new units of housing. These include the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity citywide zoning reforms with the Council’s City for All housing plan, as well as the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, and the Bronx Metro-North rezonings.

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