Council also passed legislation to lift the requirement that children be present during homeless shelter intake process
The New York City Council voted to approve the Bronx Metro-North Stations rezoning, which will add approximately 7,000 new residential housing units and make historic infrastructure and community investments in the surrounding East Bronx neighborhoods of Parkchester, Van Nest, and Morris Park with forthcoming Metro-North Stations. The plan leverages the new Metro-North service to promote transit-oriented development amidst the city’s housing crisis. It will advance economic growth, facilitate the development of housing, including affordable housing, as well secure investment in the public realm around stations to improve accessibility, pedestrian safety and quality of life.
The Council also passed legislation to remove the requirement for children to be present during the family homeless shelter intake process. Historically, families with children seeking shelter were required to have all family members, including children, present when they applied for shelter at the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) PATH Intake facility. PATH processes applications during normal business hours, which coincides with school hours and may disrupt a child’s learning. This legislation ensures that DHS provides an option for children to join remotely.
“Confronting our city’s housing and affordability crisis requires creating more homes for New Yorkers,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The opening of new Metro-North stations in the East Bronx presents a unique opportunity to develop new housing and homeownership opportunities, while delivering critical infrastructure investments that benefit surrounding neighborhoods for generations. This historic neighborhood rezoning, coupled with nearly $500 million for local infrastructure improvements that the Council secured, will have a lasting positive impact for the residents of the Bronx and our entire city. I thank Majority Leader Farías, Land Use Chair Salamanca, Zoning and Franchises Chair Riley, and Council Member Marmorato for their leadership to get this major rezoning plan across the finish line, and Mayor Adams’ administration for its partnership.”
Land Use
Bronx Metro-North Stations Rezoning – The Council secured a historic commitment of infrastructure and community investments from the Administration alongside the first neighborhood rezoning since 2021. It will add approximately 7,000 new residential units in transit-oriented development amidst a housing crisis, revitalize the local economy, and activate key corridors surrounding forthcoming Metro-North stations to be built in the East Bronx. These land use changes will be supported by a capital commitment package totaling approximately $500 million, including approximately $119 million for renovations and upgrades to local parks and open space, approximately $12 million for school improvements, approximately $189 million for street improvements such as lighting, new sidewalks, crossing, and road reconstruction on multiple major corridors, approximately $170 million in sewer improvements, water line repairs, catch basin upgrades, and other related DEP investments, and $10 million allocated for upgrades to the 49th Precinct station.
500 Kent Avenue – A private application to facilitate the development of a new 23-story commercial building with ground floor retail and waterfront public access in the Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn.
712 Myrtle Avenue – A private application to facilitate the construction of a 9-story mixed-use building with approximately 62 units, including 15 permanently affordable units, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
3033 Avenue V Rezoning – A private application to facilitate a new 9-story mixed-use development, including ground floor retail and approximately 109 housing units, 27 of which are affordable, in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn.
197 Berry Street Rezoning – A private application to reduce existing development parking requirements from 142 accessory parking spaces to 42, in order to convert existing parking spaces to a self-storage facility with 300 self-storage units in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Wings & Seafood Sidewalk Cafe – A disapproval of an application for a revocable consent to operate a sidewalk cafe.
Arthur Kill Terminal – A private application, including a zoning text amendment, landfill action, special permit, and city map change to facilitate the development of a maritime industrial site in Staten Island, just south of the Outerbridge Crossing. The new marine terminal will be used for the staging, assembly, and pre-commissioning of wind turbine generators, towers, and other components necessary to support the construction of offshore wind farm facilities.
Prince’s Point – A private application to facilitate the construction of new mapped streets and the development of 108 detached single-family homes in the Prince’s Bay neighborhood of Staten Island. Additionally, the Department of City Planning is seeking a Zoning Text Amendment to correct for the removal of a technical provision found in the Special South Richmond Development District (SSRDD).
Improving the Shelter Intake Process for Families with Children
Introduction 123-A, would prohibit DHS from requiring children to be present in person at an intake facility when their family applies or reapplies for placement at a homeless shelter. There is an exception for when DHS requests to remotely view a child and is unable to do so within 24 hours, or when a child has not checked in to their assigned shelter by the shelter’s curfew on the day following placement.
Introduction 460-A, would require the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to report on the feasibility of contracting with community-based organizations to accept and process applications for shelter intake for families with children. The commissioner of homeless services would be required to deliver the report to the Mayor and Council no later than one year after this bill goes into effect.
Assessing New York City’s Cycling Activity to Make Data Driven Improvements
Introduction 745-A, would require the Department of Transportation to publish information on its website about bicycle and micromobility ridership in the City, as well as a description of the projects it has undertaken to enhance the safety and movement of cyclists and other micromobility users on the streets and bridges under its jurisdiction. This bill will provide a transparent, data-driven perspective into the work of the Department to keep New Yorkers and all street users safe. The website will be updated monthly when data is available, and at least once per year.
Supporting Student Journalism in Every New York City Public High School
Resolution 372, calls on the New York City Department of Education to provide support for a student newspaper at every high school.
A 2022 research report by Baruch College on newspaper prevalence among New York City public high schools found that only 26.9% of non-charter public high schools have a student newspaper. The report also found that 100% of NYC’s specialized high schools have newspapers, compared to only 7% of 100 surveyed non-charter public high schools with the highest poverty rates. Student journalism advocates assert that student journalism programs are essential to helping students develop writing skills, build community, hold school leaders accountable, and develop a more racially and socioeconomically representative pipeline of professional journalists.
Finance
A transparency resolution approving new designations and changes of certain organizations receiving funding in the Expense Budget.
A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, amending an existing 40-year Article V tax exemption for one rent-stabilized buildings in Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala’s district.
A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, renewing an existing 40-year Article V tax exemption for the preservation of one rent-stabilized building in Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala’s district.
A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, authorizing a 40-year Article XI tax exemption for the preservation of one rent-stabilized building in Council Member Yusef Salaam’s district.
A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, authorizing a 40-year Article XI tax exemption for the preservation of one rent-stabilized senior building in Council Member Yusef Salaam’s district.
Appointments
The City Council’s Manhattan Delegation, Bronx Delegation, and Queens Delegation approved nominees for appointments to the Department for the Aging Advisory Council. The appointees include:
- Mark Meridy of Manhattan.
- Sophia L. Reid of the Bronx
- Myoungmi Kim of Queens
No comments:
Post a Comment