The New York City Council on Oct. 29 approved a sweeping package of land‑use actions that included the Jamaica neighborhood rezoning and the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment, a series of projects council leaders said will deliver housing, jobs and long‑term community investments. Revised land‑use call ups passed 46–0.

The Jamaica neighborhood plan—described by Speaker Adrienne Adams as “the city's largest neighborhood rezoning in over 2 decades”—is intended to cover roughly 230 blocks in southeast Queens and, according to the council, will create nearly 12,000 new homes, about 4,000 of them permanently affordable. The plan also anticipates roughly 2,000,000 square feet of commercial and community facility space and new infrastructure spending negotiated during the city’s review process.

Council member Natosha Williams, who led the community planning process, said the plan reflects two years of public engagement: “We held forums and a youth symposium where young people helped shape this plan.” Williams said the council secured what she described as “over $700,000,000 in infrastructure and community investments,” and that the rezoning establishes a Downtown Jamaica Oversight Task Force to monitor implementation and ensure continued community input.

The Council also approved the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment after sustained negotiations in the Bronx. Council member Petrina Sanchez, who championed the project, said the project “has long reflected both the immense potential of our community and the pain of decades of disinvestment” and called the agreement a “historic $375,000,000 in public and private investment” paired with what she described as a $130,000,000 community benefits agreement that guarantees local hiring, union jobs and community programming.

Other land‑use approvals on the calendar included:
- H+H River Commons (1225 Gerard Avenue): a mixed‑use development with supportive and affordable units, clinic floors dedicated to H+H clinical operations and community facility space;
- IKO Senior Living: disposition of city‑owned property for a 13‑story senior affordable building with 167 income‑restricted apartments;
- Domino Site B: design modifications to an existing large‑scale development, adding more than 200 units and some design changes; and
- Taylor Wooten Estates and 74 Bogart Street rezoning items advancing affordable homeownership and an arts storage facility, respectively.

Council members said the approvals reflect negotiated commitments on infrastructure, parks, hiring and neighborhood programs. Council member Chris Banks highlighted Taylor Wooten Estates as an affordable homeownership project negotiated to include parking and community space for East New York.

What this means next: the City Council’s land‑use approvals move items into final steps required by the City Charter and implementation will depend on project developers, city agencies and, where applicable, procurement and contract actions tied to each site. The council recorded the revised land‑use call‑ups vote as 46 in the affirmative, 0 in the negative.

Clarifying details from the floor: the council’s speakers cited differing aggregate investment totals for Jamaica—Speaker Adams referred to roughly $413,000,000 in community investments during an overview, while Council member Williams later cited “over $700,000,000” secured for the neighborhood; both figures were stated on the record and are recorded here as stated.

Implementation and oversight details—including the Downtown Jamaica Oversight Task Force and the Kingsbridge Armory community benefits agreement—were noted by members as part of the approvals; officials said the task force and the CBA are intended to monitor jobs, local hiring and program commitments moving forward.