125th Street and Park Avenue, in East Harlem

NEW YORK CITY—The New York City Council has approved, on Nov. 30, East Harlem rezoning, which it says will preserve 4,000 affordable homes in the community and bring $178.2 million in city investments to the area.

The investment funds include $50 million for capital improvements in New York City Housing Authority developments within East Harlem; $83 million to expand the Harlem River Greenway Link, connecting 125^th to 132^nd streets; $15 million to improve the East River Esplanade; $4.7 million to build public restrooms in Harlem River Park; $500,000 to create a small business workforce center to help connect local residents to job opportunities; and $25 million to renovate La Marqueta, an open-air marketplace at 1590 Park Ave.

The plan replaces zoning districts to support new development on the Park Avenue, Lexington Avenue, Third Avenue, Second Avenue and East 116^th street corridors. It includes Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) areas requiring permanent affordable housing units to be part of the new developments along these streets.

In addition, the rezoning establishes new maximum height and density limits for the area extending from East 132^nd Street down to East 104^th Street, between Fifth and Second Avenues. The height caps vary according to the East Harlem rezoning map, with 325 feet being the highest building height allowed, in the special transit land use district, along the Q line on Second Avenue.

As reported in Curbed NY, at an October City Council meeting, protesters opposed the plan chanting, “East Harlem is not for sale.” The Curbed NY article notes community activists voiced concerns that new luxury apartments will mostly benefit real estate developers, driving up rents, making the neighborhood unaffordable for long-term, lower income residents.

However, Mayor Bill de Blasio disagrees with this assessment of the rezoning's long-term impact. He says it is part of his administration's plan of building and preserving affordable housing at a record pace.

Instant Insights /

City Council Approves East Harlem Rezoning

Related Stories

Recommended For You