City Council Approves Downtown Far Rockaway Rezoning

On Sept. 7, the City Council unanimously approved a 22-block rezoning and development plan for Downtown Far Rockaway, Queens. The rezoning plans to bring more than 3,000 residential units to Far Rockaway, on land that is owned by the city, and all of these units would be affordable. The plan covers 23 blocks in total and will cost roughly $288 million, including about $126 million of city funds. The rest will come from the federal government and private groups.

The rezoning is part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York plan, and it is the first such rezoning to pass the City Council since the 2016 rezoning for East New York. It is also the first rezoning in Far Rockaway since 1961.