Stringer pretty much OK with Midtown East rezoning’s death

From left: Manhattan Beep Scott Stringer and Midtown East
From left: Manhattan Beep Scott Stringer and Midtown East

Outgoing Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer is changing his tune again on the Midtown East rezoning project.

Stringer, who came out mostly in favor of the plan in August, expressed support for opponents of the plan who helped kill the proposal.

“Clearly the negotiations didn’t work,” Stringer told Brian Lehrer on WNYC. “We have a lame duck mayor, we have a new generation of leaders coming into the government. These negotiations usually were rubber-stamped by the City Council time and time again.”

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Stringer’s previously-voiced backing for the plan was contingent on conditions including the Bloomberg administration’s commitment to paying for improvements to the subway lines serving Grand Central — an element of the rezoning he said was key to balancing the need for more commercial space with those of area residents.

The proposal fell apart Tuesday evening when City Council member Dan Garodnick and Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced that they were unable to reach a deal and would not vote in favor of the rezoning.

Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio, Stringer said, will have to make the rezoning a priority. [Capital New York]Julie Strickland