A rezoning plan for a stretch of the East Bronx has been approved by the New York City Council, making it the first rezoning project of Mayor Eric Adams to get passed in a widespread initiative to address the housing and affordability crisis affecting residents across all five boroughs.
The Bronx Metro North rezoning project, which was approved on Thursday, is being presented as the most significant rezoning plan to be enacted in the city in years, next to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s rezoning of Gowanus in 2021, which created approximately 8,500 homes.
This Bronx rezoning will allow around 7,000 new housing units near two of the new Metro North stations that are expected to open in 2027. Under the city’s mandatory inclusionary housing policy, which requires developers who benefit from a zoning change to designate a certain percentage of income-restricted, permanently affordable units, 1,7000 of the anticipated spaces will be restricted to residents who fall under a certain income level.
Most of the zoning changes are in the Morris Park, Parkchester, and Van Nest neighborhoods, a bulk of which will be in Councilmember Kristy Marmorato’s district, while also stretching into Councilmembers Amanda Farías’ and Rafael Salamanca’s districts.
Prior to the vote, Speaker Adrienne Adams said the East Bronx rezoning will usher in massive structural changes that will “take a while to happen,” as the Metro North construction alone is expected to take several years to complete.
The zoning changes for the housing units will also be accompanied by nearly $500 million in infrastructure upgrades in three Council districts, with the largest portions of funding going toward new sidewalks and additional lighting, along with sewer work and similar improvements. Another chunk of the funding will go toward park and outdoor space upgrades, while the smaller portions will be directed toward school improvements and renovations to the 49th Street Precinct station.
“That’s a really important part of any neighborhood plan, it’s not not just about changing zoning but it’s also about making key investments that accommodate the future people who are going to be living there,” Dan Garodnick, director of the Department of City Planning, told Spectrum News NY1.
The approval of this rezoning plan comes as Adams advocates for his separate City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, which seeks to remap zoning citywide and eventually create more housing. However, this proposal has drawn much criticism for not fully considering how it would affect residents in terms of parking and obtaining affordable housing.
Meanwhile, four other proposed neighborhood-level rezonings are underway and will be under review by the end of 2025.
