Rezoning could mean more tall buildings for Long Island City

City looks to bring additional affordable housing to the area

Rendering of new developments in Long Island City's Court Square neighborhood
Rendering of new developments in Long Island City's Court Square neighborhood

Long Island City, one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city, could see even more residential development as City Hall considers a possible rezoning to Encourage Construction Around Queens Plaza.

The rezoning would mean more high-rise apartment buildings, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Department of City Planning will look at a roughly 100-block area that encompasses Queens Plaza, Court Square and parts of Jackson Avenue and Northern Boulevard, according to the newspaper.

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The new developments would include affordable housing, which is part of the reason for the rezoning. The area was rezoned in 2001, which lead to the construction of several residential towers. Since 2006, more than 8,000 residential units have been added to the neighborhood, the newspaper reported.

Industrial advocates expressed concerns that creating more housing in the area could put manufacturing businesses at risk. [WSJ] Claire Moses