City pushes for more affordable housing in LIC

More condo projects likely sprouting up in the area

Long Island City and Bill de Blasio
Long Island City and Bill de Blasio

With the possibility of more condo projects coming to Long Island City, the de Blasio administration is pushing for more affordable housing in the area.

At a panel discussion Tuesday, Department of City Planning director John Young said that he is hoping for a higher density and more affordable units in the neighborhood, Crain’s reported.

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“Everybody understands the opportunity to put density where you have transit,” Young said. “It is what we call a smart growth strategy.” And Long Island City — with multiple subway lines and only a few minutes away from Midtown East — has just that.

Developers are considering adding more condos to the inventory in the neighborhood. To date, most of the new developments in Long Island City have been rentals.

“Housing, regardless of whether it is a for-sale or rental project, (will include a portion) that is affordable,” Young said, according to Crain’s. “And we mean affordable across a broad range of spectrums.” [Crain’s] — Claire Moses