City proposes Jamaica revitalization plan

The neighborhood will see a wave of development in the next five years

Sutphin Station in Jamaica, Queens
Sutphin Station in Jamaica, Queens

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration is proposing an overhaul of Jamaica, Queens, including plans to develop a large mixed-use property, unlock city-owned development sites, and improve streetscapes.

The 21-point plan, announced Wednesday morning, seeks to take advantage of a neighborhood that has an abundance of transit options, and will see 3,000 housing units, 800 hotel rooms and 500,000 square feet of retail come to market in the next five years, Crain’s reported.

Other suggested improvements include a new bus route, job training programs for residents and a retail boost.

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“Today, we officially begin building upon these incredible assets to create quality jobs, support businesses, promote economic development and improve livability in the area,” said Kyle Kimball, president of the New York Economic Development Corporation, who will step down this summer.

Just a day earlier, City Council members lamented the foreclosure crisis that is underway in the neighborhood. Of all foreclosures in New York City over the last two years, almost a full third have been in Jamaica. The administration’s plan includes a provision to help residents at risk of losing their homes. [Crain’s] — Tess Hofmann