City Council Approves Plan To Create Appx 7,000 New Homes, 10,000 Permanent Jobs In Bronx Metro-North Station Area Neighborhood, New Yorkers Claim $345M In EITC, New Credit Union For Local Communities: Mayor Adams Celebrates
NEW YORKERS CLAIM $345 MILLION THANKS TO MAYOR ADAMS’ PUSH FOR ENHANCED EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, OPENS NEW CREDIT UNION TO EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES
First Year of Enhanced NYC Earned Income Tax Credit Added Additional $280 Million Into Low-Income Communities
Tax Credit Helped More Than 746,000 New Yorkers Be Able to Better Afford Essential Items Like Food, Rent, and Utilities
Mayor Adams Cuts Ribbon on New Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union Branch to Support Financial Empowerment Services for More New Yorkers
Editor’s note: Staten Islander News has previously covered the City of Yes proposals, in particular as they related to affordable housing and faith built housing. Council Member Hanks and Assemblyman Pirozzolo also weighed in on the plan.
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today released data highlighting the success of the enhanced “NYC Earned Income Tax Credit” (EITC), which was expanded for the first time in nearly 20 years in 2022 after Mayor Adams convinced the state Legislature to bolster the social safety net and expand services for working-class families in New York City. In tax season 2023, over 746,000 New Yorkers received more money thanks to the enhancement, putting $345 million back into the pockets of New Yorkers living in some of the lowest income communities in the city, an additional $280 million from the previous tax season. Mayor Adams marked the occasion by cutting the ribbon on the second Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union branch, further supporting the rich and expanded ecosystem of the city’s free Financial Empowerment Center and NYC Free Tax Prep services overseen by DCWP.
“In New York City, working people should get a fair shot and their fair share. That is why we are building a city that works for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “Two years ago, we successfully advocated for Albany to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit for this first-time in 20 years, and because of our efforts, last year, we put $345 million back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers — a 432 percent increase from the tax season before that. Over 746,000 New Yorkers received the benefit, and we will continue to fight to make New York City more affordable so all families can continue to prosper in the greatest city in the world. We are also proud to offer a range of services and supports through our financial empowerment programs, including by partnering with organizations like Urban Upbound. Congratulations to them on the opening of their new space.”
“One of this administration’s key priorities is putting more money in New Yorkers’ pockets, and our enhanced New York City Earned Income Tax Credit has delivered that in spades, benefiting nearly 750,000 New Yorkers,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “We will continue to take advantage of every tool we have to make it easier for working class families to thrive in the city, from the enhanced EITC to the range of other free tax prep and financial empowerment programs that DCWP delivers with community partners like Urban Upbound.”
“Since the beginning of this administration, we have been committed to delivering for working-class New Yorkers and doing all we can to make New York City a place where they can thrive,” said DCWP Commissioner Mayuga. “I am proud of the work our NYC Free Tax Prep program has done to put more money back into the pockets of New Yorkers, from saving our neighbors nearly $24 million in filing fees in tax seasons 2022 and 2023 to helping filers get millions of dollars in vital tax credits, like the enhanced NYC EITC. Thank you to Mayor Adams for prioritizing the needs of some of our communities with [the] lowest incomes.”
“I am thrilled to stand with Mayor Adams and our partners to introduce this transformative banking resource to the Astoria community,” said Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, CEO and co-founder, Urban Upbound. “The Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union stands as a beacon of economic empowerment and self-reliance, serving as a vital cornerstone alongside tax prep and the Earned Income Tax Credit to uplift and strengthen our community.”
NYC EITC contributed $345 million in benefits for New Yorkers across tax season 2023, representing a 432 percent increase from tax season 2022. Image Credit – NYC Mayor
The average amount of money received by a filer who qualifies for the NYC EITC increased from $107 in tax season 2022 to $462 in tax season 2023 — an increase of $355 or 332 percent. The overall amount of money received due to the enhanced NYC EITC increased by 432 percent — from $64.8 million in tax season 2022 to $345 million in tax season 2023. Tax seasons 2022 and 2023 covered tax years 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Since the start of the Adams administration through December 2023, DCWP’s NYC Free Tax Prep program helped New Yorkers file more than 156,000 tax returns for free, saving them nearly $24 million in tax preparation fees. And this past tax season, more than 140 in-person sites provided free tax preparation services across the five boroughs. NYC Free Tax Prep providers also offered drop-off services and virtual tax preparation services. Last fall, DCWP also launched NYC Free Tax Prep for self-employed filers, offering specialized services tailored to gig workers, freelancers, and small business owners who often face barriers to filing taxes and managing financial recordkeeping.
Mayor Adams today marked these achievements by joining Urban Upbound at the grand opening of its second federal credit union branch located in Astoria, Queens. The credit union offers affordable financial services, including access to capital, asset-building vehicles, and ownership stakes to its members. These services complement Urban Upbound’s existing Financial Empowerment Center and NYC Free Tax Prep services, overseen by DCWP, including through free financial counseling to help New Yorkers improve their financial health with one-on-one support on banking, credit, debt, and savings topics, as well as free tax preparation services to help New Yorkers — including self-employed filers and small business owners — claim valuable tax credits and avoid costly tax prep fees.
Thanks to the Adams administration’s successful advocacy in Albany, the Fiscal Year 2023 adopted state budget increased the state and city match to the federal EITC for the first time in nearly 20 years.
After the city committed $250 million annually to the NYC EITC, it received a one-time state payment of $100 million. The NYC EITC increased from a 5 percent match of the federal EITC levels to 10 to 30 percent depending on the filers’ income. Under the city’s expansion of this tax credit in tax season 2023, a single parent with one child and an annual income of $14,750 or less saw their benefit rise from $187 to $933 — a 400 percent increase. A married couple with two children and an annual income of $25,000 saw their New York City benefit grow from $308 to $925 under the city payment — a 200 percent increase. In its first year, the expansion of the NYC EITC helped put an additional $280 million back into the pockets of more than 746,000 New Yorkers so they could better afford essential items like food, rent, and utilities.
“I was proud to champion the historic Earned Income Tax Credit expansion in Albany, which more than quadrupled the average family’s credit,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “We put $345 million in the pockets of almost a million working-class New Yorkers, enabling them to put food on the table, secure a roof over their heads, and stand on their own two feet. Today, we continue to bring economic empowerment and financial literacy to New Yorkers with the opening of the second Urban Upbound credit union right here in my home borough of Queens.”
“Community empowerment comes in many forms, with one of the most impactful being financial sustainability. Urban Upbound offers just that through its federal credit union services, and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome its second such branch to Western Queens,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “For the families of Western Queens who have historically been marginalized and disinvested in, this is a monumental step forward in terms of financial literacy, equity and empowerment. Congratulations to my friend Bishop Mitchell Taylor and the entire team at Urban Upbound on this historic day. I look forward to working with all our city and community partners as we put more families on a more stable financial footing.”
“During my tenure as commissioner of DCWP, we launched an unprecedented campaign for the EITC initiative, which returned over $260 million to hardworking New Yorkers,” said New York City Councilmember Julie Menin. “The enhanced EITC has returned even more taxpayer dollars and directly addresses economic inequality in our city. I appreciate that Mayor Adams’ administration is prioritizing this tax credit, which has lifted up hundreds of thousands of hardworking families.”
MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF PLAN TO CREATE APPROXIMATELY 7,000 NEW HOMES AND 10,000 PERMANENT JOBS IN BRONX METRO-NORTH STATION AREA NEIGHBORHOOD
Plan Will Also Deliver Improved Public Space and Enhanced Transit Access to the Bronx
Announcement Comes as Adams Administration Addresses Housing Crisis with “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” Proposal to Produce as Many as 108,850 New Homes Over Next 15 Years
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) Director and City Planning Commission (CPC) Chair Dan Garodnick today celebrated the New York City Council’s approval of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, the first DCP-led neighborhood plan certified and approved under the Adams administration. Designed to accompany four new Metro-North stations coming to Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, Hunts Point, and Co-op City in 2027, the plan is expected to create approximately 7,000 homes, including permanently income-restricted affordable housing, and 10,000 permanent jobs, along with improved public spaces and enhanced access to mass transit. Today’s announcement comes as the Adams administration aims to address the housing crisis with the passage of its “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” proposal, which aims to produce as many as 108,850 new homes over 15 years.
“Today, the Bronx bought a ticket to the future, creating thousands of new jobs and affordable homes while embracing mass transit, all by saying ‘yes,’” said Mayor Adams. “The Bronx is saying ‘yes’ to more housing in our backyards, communities, and neighborhoods, and serving as a model to the rest of our city on how to lead from the front. With our administration’s neighborhoods plans and our ‘City of Yes’ proposal, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build our way out of this housing shortage and affordability crisis. I am calling on our partners in the City Council to join us in this fight and deliver on the promise that working-class families are asking us to do: build more and make this city more affordable.”
“Today marks a significant milestone for our city as we celebrate the passage of the Bronx Metro-North Area plan, bringing millions in new funding, approximately 7,000 homes — including permanent affordable housing — and 10,000 new jobs to the Boogie Down Bronx,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Our administration was laser focused on delivering a plan that ensures Bronxites will see the most benefit from the coming stations. I thank the City Council for their leadership, particularly Councilmembers Farias, Marmarato, Riley, and Salamanca, in bringing this vision to life. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Speaker Adams and the entire City Council to advance the ‘City of Yes’ proposal and build the desperately needed housing that New Yorkers deserve across the five boroughs.”
“We hear time and again: New Yorkers, no matter what borough they’re in, want walkable, connected communities, with access to good jobs and plentiful public space,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board Member Meera Joshi. “The Bronx Metro North Neighborhood Plan will deliver exactly that — vibrant, green districts for retail and housing around regional transit hubs that will better connect Bronxites to their local communities and to the city as a whole. This is what we mean when we say a five-borough administration. Deep thanks to all who have played and will continue to play a part.”
“In connection with four new Metro-North Stations, we are now on track to deliver much-needed new homes, jobs, and infrastructure improvements to the East Bronx; improve the quality of life for residents; and put a real dent in our citywide housing crisis,” said DCP Director and CPC Chair Garodnick. “Thank you to the City Council for supporting this plan to create a more connected and vibrant Bronx.”
“Public transportation is the connective tissue of our city, and we applaud the City Council for approving the Bronx Metro North Station Plan, which will create economic opportunity and approximately 7,000 new homes — a key building block of the larger ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ initiative to help make homes within reach for working-class New Yorkers,” said New York City Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Abby Jo Sigal. “The 10,000 new jobs resulting from this announcement, coupled with the city’s commitment to apprenticeship, building youth career pathways, and implementing the nation’s largest community hiring program, will also help drive economic mobility for New York families and contribute to the city’s shared prosperity.”
“Delivering housing is one of this administration’s most crucial tasks, and it’s our duty to ensure that all housing is supported by functional infrastructure and a thriving public realm,” said New York City Chief Infrastructure Officer Alison N. Landry. “The Bronx Metro North Neighborhood Plan delivers on this duty with meaningful capital improvements across East Bronx communities. Thanks to years of partnership across city agencies, elected officials, and the community, these comprehensive investments reflect the accessible, safe, and resilient neighborhood planning that all New Yorkers deserve.”
“The successful passage of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan is a major step in the right direction,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrion, Jr. “New York City is coming together to embrace bold, smart, and environmentally-sound ideas to build more affordable housing in every neighborhood. Approximately 7,000 new homes will be lifechanging for New York families while opening a new chapter in a historically neglected strip of our city.”
“The City Council’s approval of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan is the culmination of over six years of collaboration between the city’s planning and infrastructure agencies, local community members and elected officials, our partners at the MTA, and many more,” said New York City Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “This approval marks a pivotal shift towards a future with new housing opportunities and greater transportation access to and from important job centers. The investments that are unlocked through this neighborhood plan — which include permanently affordable homes, new jobs, improved public and open space, and access to mass transit — will benefit Bronx residents and New Yorkers for generations to come.”
“Confronting our city’s housing and affordability crisis requires creating more homes for New Yorkers,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The opening of new Metro-North stations in the East Bronx presents a unique opportunity to develop new housing and homeownership opportunities, while delivering critical infrastructure investments that benefit surrounding neighborhoods for generations. This historic neighborhood rezoning, coupled with nearly $500 million for local infrastructure improvements that the City Council secured, will have a lasting positive impact for the residents of the Bronx and our entire city. I thank Majority Leader Amanda Farías, Land Use Chair Rafael Salamanca, Zoning and Franchises Chair Kevin Riley, and Councilmember Kristy Marmorato for their leadership to get this major rezoning plan across the finish line, and Mayor Adams’ administration for its partnership.”
“As long-term Bronxites, my colleagues and I have consistently demonstrated our deep commitment to the neighborhoods that shaped us by securing transformative investments,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias. “I’m proud to have championed this development project, securing nearly $200 million in infrastructure upgrades for District 18. These achievements were hard won through rigorous negotiations and extensive community outreach—including in-person and virtual events in Parkchester—ensuring that every voice was heard, and every concern addressed. Our shared vision for a more equitable Bronx drove us to overcome significant challenges, resulting in key milestones in parking, school investments, cultural inclusion, and more. Our recent modifications prioritize building a brighter, more inclusive future for the Bronx, ensuring that historically underserved communities receive the attention and resources they deserve. I eagerly anticipate seeing the administration carry out this funding in the coming years, bringing lasting positive impacts to our neighborhoods.”
“I am very grateful to my City Council colleagues for approving the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan today,” said New York City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, Jr, chair, Committee on Land Use. “Not only will the creation of four new Metro-North stations at Hunts Point, Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest, and Co-op City dramatically improve transportation from the South Bronx to Manhattan, we will also see an influx of new professional and educational opportunities open up for our constituents. With our city experiencing a heightened housing crisis, we will now also receive 7000 new units of desperately needed housing built in our borough. I look forward to seeing how greatly my borough will transform and grow upon the Bronx Metro-North Plan’s completion.”
“Today marks a significant milestone for the Bronx, as we move forward with a plan that will not only strengthen our transportation infrastructure, but also create much-needed housing and permanent jobs for our communities,” said New York City Councilmember Kevin C. Riley, chair, Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises. “The Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan exemplifies what can be achieved when the City Council and the Adams administration work in partnership. Securing more than 7,000 homes, 10,000 jobs, and investments in improving neighborhood infrastructure, this comprehensive plan creates extended pathways for sustainable growth citywide. I’m proud to have collaborated to ensure that the Co-op City community and surrounding neighborhoods receive the investments they deserve. This initiative exemplifies the power of forward-thinking planning that benefits the entire city, and I am honored to work alongside my colleagues to advance bold, transformative change for the Bronx.”
“The approval of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan represents a significant step towards smart development in District 13,” said New York City Councilmember Kristy Marmorato. “This rezoning — the largest we’ve seen in a decade — is a testament to our community’s dedication to growth that respects and preserves our neighborhood’s unique character. By working closely with residents and local stakeholders, we have crafted a plan that truly considers the district’s makeup and desires. Through this collaborative process, we’ve secured meaningful modifications that ensure our parking mandates, protect our lower-density communities, and bring over $300 million in essential capital investments. These investments will enhance public safety, improve our parks and playgrounds, upgrade our streets, and provide critical flood protection. This plan not only meets our current needs, but also establishes a foundation for a stronger and resilient community for generations to come to District 13.”
“I want to thank the City Council for approving the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study rezoning proposal, paving the way for the development of 7,000 new homes in our borough,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. “This is a significant step forward in addressing our housing shortage and creating much-needed new homeownership opportunities. Alongside this crucial development, we are also making substantial investments in our parks, schools, and infrastructure to ensure that our community’s growth is sustainable and beneficial for all. These upgrades will help prevent flooding and enhance the quality of life for our residents. This comprehensive approach to development reflects our shared commitment to building a stronger, more resilient Bronx.”
“It is great to see the city recognizing the value of MTA investments for transit-oriented development,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “We’d like to talk to the city about using value capture strategies to finance more projects like this one in the MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan.”
The Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan will help spur the creation of approximately 7,000 new homes, including 1,700 permanently income-restricted homes through Mandatory Inclusionary Housing. The plan does this by allowing residential uses in sections of Parkchester/Van Nest currently designated solely for commercial and manufacturing uses, and expanding the amount of housing allowed in residential districts of both Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park. To further the Bronx’s ongoing economic growth, the plan will lead to the creation of 10,000 new jobs in Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park by strengthening commercial corridors and supporting the growth of prominent local institutions and job centers, including Calvary Hospital, Hutchinson Metro Center, Jacobi Medical Center, and Montefiore Hospital. With a total of 37,000 jobs, Morris Park and Hunts Point are already two of the 10 largest job centers in New York City today, and this plan will help ensure that they continue to serve as key economic engines into the future.
The Bronx Metro-North Area Plan complements these new homes and jobs with hundreds of millions of dollars of investments in public amenities and infrastructure across the study area. Together, these investments will significantly enhance public space, transportation access, public safety, and environmental resiliency for Bronx residents. These investments include:
- Enhanced pedestrian safety, transportation access, and traffic circulation with intersection and streetscape improvements near the Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest stations, as well as a new bus turnaround near the Co-op City Station at Erskine Place;
- A lighting study to improve access to the Hunts Point Avenue station;
- A new public plaza at the Morris Park station, and pedestrian crossing improvements along Eastchester Road;
- Improvements to public parks and open spaces, including renovation and reconstruction of the following parks and playgrounds: Castle Hill Playground, Bufano Park, Pelham Bay Park Ballfields #4 and #5, Taylor Playground, Virginia Playground, Loreto Playground, and Brady Playground;
- School facility upgrades at PS 102, PS 106, Linden Tree, Archer Elementary, PS 12, MS 127, and PS 138 and;
- Drainage infrastructure upgrades to mitigate flooding on flood-prone streets and to increase stormwater capture capacity.
Today’s approval follows over six years of public collaboration on the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, including in-person and virtual workshops, surveys, weekly “office hours” with DCP staff, small-group meetings, and more. The city worked closely with local elected officials; nearly two dozen community stakeholders, such as neighborhood organizations, educational institutions, and medical hubs; and state and federal government agencies to craft the final plan.
The Adams administration is in the middle of public review for City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the most pro-housing zoning proposal in New York City’s history. In addition to the City of Yes and Bronx Metro-North plan, DCP is advancing several robust plans that, if adopted, would deliver more than 50,000 units over the next 15 years in Central Brooklyn, Midtown South in Manhattan, and Long Island City and Jamaica in Queens.
Since the start of his administration, Mayor Adams has made record investments towards creating and preserving affordable housing. Last month, Mayor Adams announced back-to-back record breaking years in both creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing. In June, the Adams administration delivered an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invests $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to HPD and the New York City Housing Authority’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed a record $26 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a generational housing crisis. In June, Mayor Adams and others announced a landmark $500 million investment from the Battery Park City Authority’s Joint Purpose Fund to build and maintain affordable housing. This spring, thanks to Mayor Adams’ vision and leadership, the city celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point Transformation.
Additionally, the Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city’s housing crisis. Earlier this year, Mayor Adams and members of his administration successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently-needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multi-family rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.
Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city is fulfilling its 2024 State of the City commitment to build more affordable housing, including being ahead of schedule on advancing two dozen affordable housing projects on city-owned land this year through the “24 in ‘24” initiative, reopening the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program waitlist after being closed to general applications for nearly 15 years, and creating the Tenant Protection Cabinet to coordinate across agencies to better serve tenants. The city has also taken several steps to cut red tape and speed up the delivery of much-needed housing, including through the “Green Fast Track for Housing,” a streamlined environmental review process for qualifying small- and medium-sized housing projects; the Office Conversion Accelerator, an interagency effort to guide buildings that wish to convert through city bureaucracy; and other initiatives of the Building and Land Use Approval Streamlining Taskforce.
“On behalf of the Bronx business community, we commend the City Council on the approval of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan,” said Lisa Sorin, president, Bronx Chamber of Commerce. “This groundbreaking initiative will benefit our borough by not only creating thousands of new jobs and improving transit access for commuters, but also infusing the East Bronx with much-needed housing units as well as community resources and public space enhancements within adjacent corridors.”
“This is a historic day for the Bronx! The Morris Park Business Improvement District welcomes the vast range of community benefits to be generated by the four new Metro North stations, from improved public spaces to better connectivity and new job opportunities,” said Dr. Camelia Tepelus, executive director, Morris Park Business Improvement District. “These will consolidate Morris Park’s contribution to the Bronx economy, continuing our path as one of the largest life-sciences job centers of the city. Our thanks to the City Council and DCP teams leading this transformative project.”
“The approval of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan is going to be transformative for the Bronx and we truly appreciate the City Council and its leadership, as well as Mayor Adams and DCP, for bringing the plan one step closer to fruition,” said Ruben Diaz, Jr., senior vice president, strategic initiatives, Montefiore Einstein. “We are proud to be working alongside our local leaders and elected officials in the community and recognize the tremendous opportunities that come with this news, including cementing the opportunity to realize our plans for a new ‘Wellness Village’ that will set us apart as the epicenter of life sciences, health care, and healing.”
Banner Image: Free Tax Prep Graphic. Image Credit – NYC DCWP
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