“The Arches” Further Revitalization, Restoring Public Safety Grants, Anti-Semitism Definition, Hunts Point Jail Barge Removal, More Affordable Housing
“The Arches” Further Revitalization, Restoring Public Safety Grants, Anti-Semitism Definition, Hunts Point Jail Barge Removal, More Affordable Housing
Editor’s note: Last week’s Mayor’s Office rundown discussed the Atlantic Avenue corridor approval, Central Park quality of life improvements, along with an inclusive childhood education center. New e-bike and scooter requirements have been instituted, and he spoke about the new Bronx senior housing development. The City also saw record low shootings and homicides so far in 2025. The original Arches restoration was covered previously.
MAYOR ADAMS INVESTS $50 MILLION TO FURTHER REVITALIZE “THE ARCHES,” PUBLIC SPACE ON MANHATTAN SIDE OF BROOKLYN BRIDGE
Investment Part of “Best Budget Ever” and “We Outside Summer,” Will Improve Revitalized Public Space
Major Restoration of Brooklyn Bridge Closed Adjacent Space for Past 15 Years
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today cut the ribbon on a newly-revitalized portion of “The Arches” — the public space on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge adjacent to City Hall that is named for the 53 adjacent arches under the Brooklyn Bridge — and announced $50 million in additional funding to improve the public space. As part of Mayor Adams’ Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget — referred to often as the city’s “Best Budget Ever” — this investment will add additional amenities to the public space, including public seating, plantings, lighting, and more. The announcement continues Mayor Adams’ “We Outside Summer” — a new initiative that will include a series of announcements, events, investments, and new programming across the five boroughs to ensure New Yorkers have a safe, enjoyable summer.
“Public space in this city is precious — it’s where our families create memories, it’s where our children play, and it’s where communities come to relax. Today, we return two more acres of public space back to the local Chinatown community at ‘The Arches,’ giving New Yorkers more outdoor space to exercise, engage with others, and enjoy,” said Mayor Adams. “We are also investing $50 million in funding to bring this space back to life, and transform it into a lively, inclusive space for friends and neighbors to come together — welcoming New Yorkers from all walks of life. Right in time for our ‘We Outside Summer,’ The Arches brings us closer to creating a more equitable, livable, and prosperous New York.”
“The Arches” is named for the 53 adjacent arches under the Brooklyn Bridge.
Source: New York City Department of Transportation (DOT).
“In the shade of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, this project delivers many things — an architectural marvel, a proper home for skating in one of the sport’s global hubs, and a place to relax in a neighborhood with too few,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth. “We are grateful to our agency partners; to Rosa Chang, who relentlessly helped us push this over the finish line; The Skatepark Project; and our many local friends and advocates who got us to this moment.”
“In a city where public space is at a premium — especially in neighborhoods like Chinatown and Lower Manhattan — bringing this iconic stretch under the Brooklyn Bridge back to life is a big win for New Yorkers,” said Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “We’re turning concrete into community — a place that will be a respite and gathering place for residents, workers, and visitors alike. By opening up more welcoming, active spaces, we’re also helping local businesses thrive and shining a spotlight on the culture and energy that make neighborhoods like Chinatown so special.”
“The Lower Manhattan community, and all who visit it each day, can celebrate this special day as we return the space around this beautiful bridge to a neighborhood where public space is so precious,” said New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “As the weather warms, we invite the community and tourists who are visiting the bridge and Chinatown to come enjoy this beautiful new public space.”
The phased re-opening of “The Arches” began in 2023 but today marks the return of the largest plaza portion — more than two acres of new public space — to the local lower Manhattan community, to be combined with the more than one acre previously opened. The new space includes access to space under the Brooklyn Bridge’s dramatic vaulted archways — part of the National Historic Landmark that is managed by DOT — which in the last decade has undergone more than $1 billion in improvements, its most significant rehabilitation and restoration since the bridge was first completed in 1883.
“New York City is fortunate to be shaped by the breathtaking diversity of New Yorkers who, for centuries, have dared to dream big and worked relentlessly to make those dreams a reality,” said Rosa Chang, co-founder and president, Gotham Park. “Our cityscape is the embodiment of that collective yearning and achievement. The Brooklyn Bridge is one of its most powerful symbols — a love letter to New Yorkers, written in stone 142 years ago. It reaches across time to connect us, inspire us, and challenge us to be better. With this new chapter of Gotham Park, we commit to building a welcoming space to gather, share, play, grow, and thrive. The space itself is a majestic canvas — but we, the people who bring it to life, are the ever-changing art. Our deepest thanks go to Mayor Eric Adams, who keeps saying ‘yes’ when it matters most; to every hard-working public servant at City Hall and at the New York City Department of Transportation, which has made this possible; to our community partners at Trinity Church, Community Board 1, and Community Board 3; and to the countless local stakeholders who helped bring us to this moment. Gotham Park is the adventure of a lifetime, and we’re just getting started. Let’s keep dreaming together and write a love letter to our children.”
“The revitalization and re-opening of the Brooklyn Banks is a monumental moment for skateboarding,” said Benjamin Anderson Bashein, CEO, The Skatepark Project. “This historic skate spot is a special place where people from across the world have come to skate and to find community, and we’re thrilled to see it open to the public once again. We are grateful to our partners at City Hall, who have prioritized this project, along with Gotham Park and Vans, whose unwavering support has helped make this dream project become a reality.”
The area opening today had served as a contractor staging area for more than a decade, supporting restoration for the Brooklyn Bridge, projects which together totaled more than $1 billion in investments. In spaces re-opened over the last two years, public space was added for pickleball, basketball, and shuffleboard, as well as quiet benched areas.
In May 2023, Mayor Adams also announced the plaza space would be open to the community for a range of recreational activities, including the return of the “Brooklyn Banks” site, once known as the “mecca of New York skateboarding.” The newest public plaza space honors this history with a revitalized space designed in partnership with Gotham Park and Tony Hawk’s non-profit organization, The Skatepark Project. The Adams administration continues to work closely with The Skatepark Project to ensure all materials and design features of the park meet the safety, wellness, and performance needs of the action sports community, and with Gotham Park and community leaders to ensure the historic site serves New Yorkers for years to come.
“I’m thrilled that New York City has committed $50 million to the revitalization of ‘The Arches’ beneath the Brooklyn Bridge,” said U.S. Representative Dan Goldman. “This vital investment, combined with the federal funding that Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and I helped secure, will play a major role in reconnecting and revitalizing the long-separated communities of Chinatown, Two Bridges, and Lower Manhattan. I commend the city for investing in this area and will continue working alongside them to direct even more resources to this exciting project.”
CITY OF NEW YORK TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT OVER $820 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE
Coalition Files Amicus Brief Outlining Why Non-Profits Must Have Federal Public Safety Grants Restored
Continues Adams Administration’s Work To Ensure New Yorkers Get Every Dollar They Are Entitled to at Every Level of Government
NEW YORK – The City of New York today — as part of a coalition of cities, counties, elected officials, and prosecuting attorneys from around the nation — took action to protect congressionally-appropriated funding for public safety organizations by filing an amicus brief in the case of Vera Institute of Justice, et al. v. U.S. Department of Justice, et al. This brief strongly supports litigation against the unlawful April 2025 decision by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to immediately terminate more than 270 multi-year grants, awarding more than $820 million in essential funding to non-profit organizations serving to strengthen public safety in communities across the country, including in New York City.
“These grant funding cuts by the U.S. Department of Justice represent yet another example of a massive overreach by this federal administration,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. “As detailed in the brief, the nearly billion dollars in funding cuts to our longstanding non-profit partners not only violate the intent of Congress but undermine public safety and vital social services for our communities.”
“These cuts to service providers will have a significant impact on New Yorkers,” said Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan. “The organizations impacted provide critical public safety services to our community, including resources that support victims and lower recidivism. They also provide tools to make our courts more efficient and vital services for individuals transitioning back into the community. New York is the safest big city in America and these cuts undermine its ability to maintain that safety.”
Several organizations that are contractors or sub-contractors with New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice have lost out on more than $18 million in grants in total after the OJP terminated the grants. As the brief lays out, New York City and other localities rely on these and other public safety partners, and if the funding is not restored, New Yorkers and other Americans would bear the impact of reduced services or increased costs, and public safety could be undermined.
Many of the terminated grants support programs that appear to be aligned with OJP’s stated goals for violence reduction, law enforcement efforts, victim services, child protection, and other public safety and justice functions. More specifically, New York City and the other jurisdictions that joined the brief rely on non-profit partners to provide these services, including, among many others, maintaining correctional facilities, improving safety in prisons, updating law enforcement and emergency responses, providing invaluable support for victims of crime, and training and assisting law enforcement and police officers, correctional facilities staff, prosecutors, judges, and amici’s own staff on a variety of issues and services involving mental health, homelessness, substance use treatment, and gun and gang violence intervention.
In the brief, the coalition asks the court to support the plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction.
The amicus brief was prepared by the Public Rights Project and was joined by the City of New York, along with the cities of Sacramento and Santa Monica, California; Chicago, Illinois; Baltimore, Maryland; Kansas City, Missouri; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Newark, New Jersey; as well as Santa Clara County, California; Montgomery County, Maryland; Washtenaw County, Michigan; Shelby County, Tennessee; King County, Washington; and Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Also joining are elected officials and prosecuting attorneys representing Santa Clara County, California; Ridgway, Colorado; Marrion County, Indiana; Kalamazoo County and Washtenaw County, Michigan; Jackson County, Missouri; Hood River and Wasco County, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Shelby County, Tennessee; Travis County, Texas; Chittenden County, Vermont; Norfolk, Virginia; and Winnebago County, Wisconsin.
MAYOR ADAMS SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER AND PROPOSES LEGISLATION TO CODIFY INTO LAW INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE ALLIANCE DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM, ADDRESSING HISTORIC RISE IN ANTI-JEWISH HATRED
Mayor Adams Doubles Down on Efforts to Crack Down on Rising Crisis of Antisemitism and Calls on City Council to Immediately Codify Definition Into Law
New Executive Order Will Codify Definition Used by U.S. Department of State, Helping City of New York Identify Incidents of Antisemitism and Raise Awareness
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed a historic executive order to recognize the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism to facilitate constructive discourse, further understanding, and enable a thoughtful response to antisemitic hate in New York City. Amidst a historic rise in antisemitic incidents across the five boroughs and the rest of the nation, Mayor Adams today is taking an ambitious stance against acts of hatred and violence against New York’s vibrant and diverse Jewish community, totaling approximately 960,000, or more than 11 percent of the city’s population. This order directs agencies to use this working definition to identify and address incidents of antisemitism across the city, as well as to raise awareness of this crisis. As a part of this announcement, Mayor Adams introduced legislation to the City Council, calling on them to match this commitment by codifying this definition in new legislation.
“Antisemitism is a vile disease that’s been spreading across our nation and our city. What’s worse, since Hamas’ terror attacks on October 7, 2023, we have seen this hateful rhetoric become normalized on our campuses, in our communities, and online as antisemitic propaganda far too often masquerades as ‘activism.’ When Jewish New Yorkers make up 11 percent of the population but more than half of all hate crimes, we know this moment demands bold, decisive action to crack down on anti-Jewish hatred,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we signed a landmark executive order to adopt an internationally recognized definition of antisemitism, but we must go further. I am calling on the City Council to join this commitment to target antisemitism everywhere it exists and immediately pass a bill to codify this definition into law. It’s time we all come together to eradicate this hatred from our city, once and for all.”
“As home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the world, we have zero-tolerance for antisemitism and discrimination of any kind,” said First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. “With today’s executive order adopting the internationally-recognized definition of antisemitism, Mayor Adams has taken bold action to address an endemic problem in our city, country, and world. And we know we had to act because more than half of all hate crimes in our city today are committed against Jewish New Yorkers. To combat antisemitism, we have to have a common understanding of what it is — now we do.”
“Recognizing the IHRA definition of antisemitism is critical to confront hate and understand the pervasiveness of antisemitism,” said Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism Executive Director Moshe Davis. “We will no longer tolerate denying the Jewish community the right to self-determination, using code words to demean Jewish New Yorkers, or targeting our community while claiming to target Zionists; we’ve seen the violence this breeds. Antisemitism has no place in our schools, our government, or our city.”
This working definition was first adopted by the IHRA’s 31 member states, of which the United States is a member, in May 2016. This definition outlines specific, contemporary examples of antisemitism to illustrate how this form of hatred appears in daily life, such as “accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust,” “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor,” and “holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.” This non-legally binding working definition has been recognized by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Education, 35 states, the District of Columbia, and over 80 other localities.
Last month, Mayor Adams established the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, the first office of its kind established in a major city across the nation. Flanked by dozens of leading Jewish advocates, the mayor announced this new effort, which is establishing an inter-agency taskforce dedicated to fighting antisemitism in all its forms, including by monitoring court cases and outcomes at all levels of the justice system, liaising with the New York City Law Department on appropriate cases to bring or join, advising on executive orders to issue and legislation to propose to address antisemitism, and working across agencies to ensure New Yorkers feel protected against antisemitism and address incidents of antisemitism, among taking other actions. The office will also work to combat antisemitism at city-funded entities and city agencies.
Today’s executive order follows a historic rise in violence against Jewish New Yorkers. Last year, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported that 54 percent of all hate crimes in New York City were against Jewish New Yorkers. As of the most recent data from 2025, that number rose to 57 percent. The Anti-Defamation League recently reported a record number of antisemitic incidents in 2024 across the country, including the highest number in New York state.
These new efforts build on Mayor Adams’ strong record of taking action to protect Jewish New Yorkers, including by directing the NYPD to take action against hate crimes and violence that threaten New Yorkers; establishing the city’s first “Breaking Bread, Building Bonds” initiative to broaden connections amongst communities of every faith, class, and creed; and establishing the city’s first Jewish Advisory Council to ensure Jewish communities across New York City are connected with all of the city’s resources and services available.
“By adopting the critically important IHRA definition of antisemitism, Mayor Adams is taking an important step in confronting the appalling rise in Jew-hatred that is plaguing our country,” said Elan Carr, chief executive officer, Israeli-American Council (IAC) and former U.S special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. “New York is home to America’s largest Jewish community, and we are continually grateful to Mayor Adams for his friendship and commitment to justice.”
“As the president’s nominee to combat global antisemitism, I welcome this important step by New York City,” said Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, nominee for U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. “It is crucial for all cities, states, and countries to adopt these policies and build on the requirements outlined in IHRA’s language. Antisemitism must be a bipartisan issue and condemned by all people.”
“Since Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel, there has been a dramatic increase in antisemitism – on college campuses, on the streets of New York City, in board rooms, on social media,” said Stephanie Hauser, chief operating officer, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. “In recent weeks, we have seen how this hate has manifested itself into deadly attacks. To address the problem of antisemitism, there must be clarity about what constitutes antisemitism. We thank Mayor Adams for his Executive Order, which adopts the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, joining 37 states and over 40 countries in doing so. This is an important step to show that NYC, the largest city in the country, has no tolerance for antisemitism.”
“StandWithUs congratulates Mayor Adams for adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism,” said Avi Posnick, executive director, StandWithUs Northeast & New England. “The definition is a gold standard tool for identifying how modern-day antisemitism manifests, and its adoption will only empower more people to call out antisemitism as it surges nationwide. Like all groups, Jews must be the ones who define their own experiences with oppression, and this definition, through its examples, allows for exactly that. At a time of rising antisemitism here in NYC and across the country, in our schools and in greater society, NYC is now taking a critical step to dealing with the world’s oldest virus – by defining antisemitism to defeat it.”
“Anti-Defamation League New York/New Jersey applauds New York City’s adoption of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism,” said Scott Richman, regional director, ADL New York and New Jersey. “This is an important tool to identify and understand the complex ways in which antisemitism can manifest today. We look forward to continuing to partner with Moshe Davis and the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism in their efforts to fight antisemitism and to support the Jewish community in New York City.”
“In recent years, antisemitism has taken on new and troubling forms, fueled by age-old prejudices and by modern political motivations. This has created an urgent need for a clear and consistent definition that can guide both governmental policy and law enforcement. The IHRA Working Definition provides just that, offering a comprehensive and flexible framework to identify antisemitism, including incidents targeting Jews in connection with Israel,” said Josh Kramer, director, American Jewish Committee (AJC) New York. “By adopting this definition, New York City joins a growing number of governments and institutions committed to fighting antisemitism and safeguarding Jewish communities. With approximately one in ten New York residents being Jewish, and with the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, it is vital that we maintain an environment where all communities are treated with dignity and respect. Adopting the IHRA definition is an important tool to ensuring New York remains a safe and inclusive place for all its residents, including the Jewish community.”
“With antisemitism surging across our city and country, we applaud the mayor for his leadership in adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism – an essential step in confronting anti-Jewish hate,” said Eric Goldstein, chief executive officer, United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York. “Let us be clear and speak with one voice: Antisemitism in any of its destructive manifestation has no place in our city.”
“Since October 7th, Jewish New Yorkers — regardless of our connection to Israel — have been relentlessly pressured to renounce Zionism and the very idea of Jewish self-determination, treated as suspect or unwelcome when we refuse. At a time when eliminationist rhetoric like ‘globalize the intifada’ is shouted in our streets and on our campuses, we are told that our safety must be sacrificed on the altar of someone else’s version of free speech and human rights. These are false choices — ones that no other community is asked to make. And holding Jews to these exceptional standards is plainly antisemitic. That’s why this Executive Order — recognizing the IHRA working definition of antisemitism — is so important,” said Mark Treyger, chief executive officer, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. “The IHRA definition, which has strong bipartisan and international support, will assist New York City agencies by better equipping them with tools to recognize, respond to, and prevent antisemitism with the clarity and seriousness it demands. The government of New York City cannot protect Jewish people if it cannot define the hate we face. I thank Mayor Adams for taking this urgent and necessary step to confront antisemitism and protect the rights and safety of Jewish New Yorkers.”
“When New York City acts, the rest of the world follows,” said Sacha Roytman, chief executive officer, Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM). “Adopting and implementing the IHRA definition is one of the most practical and effective steps municipal authorities can take to address rising antisemitism and protect Jewish communities. We are deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for this latest act of exemplary leadership on his part in the city-level fight against Jew-hatred.”
“Antisemitic incidents on U.S. soil are at unprecedented levels—the highest in our lifetime,” said Kenneth Marcus, former U.S. assistant secretary of education for civil rights. “We strongly commend Mayor Eric Adams for his leadership and for incorporating the IHRA definition of antisemitism into his new Executive Order. This frightening trend, which is getting more and more violent by the day, demands urgent and decisive action, starting with our government leaders. IHRA provides a clear framework for law enforcement, educators and all local officials to properly identify and address anti-Semitism in all its forms. Mayor Adams’ example should be followed nationwide. Every city and state must follow Mayor Adams’ lead to confront this ugly and dangerous resurgence in Jew-hatred.”
MAYOR ADAMS, NYCEDC, DOC ANNOUNCE PLAN TO REMOVE DECOMMISSIONED JAIL BARGE FROM HUNTS POINT, UNVEIL AMBITIOUS VISION FOR INNOVATIVE MARINE TERMINAL
City Will Permanently Remove Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center from Hunts Point, Delivering on Key Recommendation in Mayor Adams’ “Hunts Point Forward” Plan
Adams Administration Reveals Vision for New Hunts Point Marine Terminal on Site to Connect Cargo to Last-Mile Delivery, Generate $3.9 Billion in Economic Impact, Create Hundreds of Jobs, Remove 9,000 Truck Trips from City Streets Every Month
Plan Would Establish Economic Mobility Network in Hunts Point to Connect New Yorkers to Jobs, Invest Over $28 Million to Expand Waterfront Access and Improve Greenway
Announcement Part of Adams Administration’s Efforts to Turn New York City’s Waterways into Harbor of the Future, Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs, Support Innovative Industries Across All Five Boroughs
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball, and New York City Department of Correction (DOC) Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie today announced that the city will remove the decommissioned Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center (VCBC) barge from Hunts Point and pursue an innovative Hunts Point Marine Terminal on the site to move freight off of ships and onto the last mile in their delivery. After originally decommissioning the VCBC facility in 2023, the Adams administration announced today that NYCEDC will issue a request for proposals (RFP) to remove the former jail barge, freeing up valuable space on the Hunts Point waterfront. In its place, the Adams administration envisions a new Hunts Point Marine Terminal to move cargo from shipping containers onto additional barges and ferries for last-mile deliveries throughout New York City.
The new marine terminal — which is estimated to create 400 construction jobs, 100 permanent jobs, and $3.9 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years — would form a key connection point between ports up and down the East Coast, including the Brooklyn Marine Terminal and other nodes in New York City. By building this new ‘Blue Highways’ facility, the terminal would remove an estimated 9,000 monthly truck trips from city streets and reduce roadway congestion. Additionally, the Adams administration will invest more than $28 million as part of its Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget — also known as the “Best Budget Ever” — to extend the existing bike network currently running alongside Food Center Drive to go along Halleck Street and expand access to the waterfront. Today’s announcement continues Mayor Adams’ vision to turn New York City’s waterfront into a Harbor of the Future; establish New York City as the global destination for green technology, innovation, and opportunity; and create approximately 53,000 temporary and permanent jobs and $95 billion in economic impact.
“For hundreds of years, New York City’s waterways have powered our economy and made our city a global destination for commerce, capital, and cargo. With the investments our administration is making every day, we are writing the next chapter in that history and turning our waterfront into a ‘Harbor of the Future.’ From a first-in-the-nation climate research facility on Governors Island to a state-of-the-art life sciences hub at Kips Bay to much more, our ‘Harbor of the Future’ will create tens of thousands of jobs, generate billions in economic impact, and keep our city at the front of emerging industries,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we are adding yet another stop to that harbor by clearing away the old jail barge in the Bronx and building a new Hunts Point Marine Terminal in its place. We’ll unload cargo from all across the world for delivery throughout New York City, put even more New Yorkers to work in vibrant industries, and continue to show that cities can do bold, ambitious things. But we’re not stopping there. Later this month, our city has a chance to do yet another big thing when leaders vote on the future of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. We have a once-in-a-generation chance to turn this crumbling facility into a modern maritime port with thousands of new homes, hundreds of thousands of square feet of industrial space, and dozens of acres of green space. In short, we have a chance to say ‘yes’ to a bolder, brighter future for our city.”
“I served the Bronx as borough president and New York City councilmember for nearly 12 years, and I am thrilled by today’s announcement to remove the Vernon Bain Correctional Facility,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión Jr. “But I am even more excited by what’s ahead: meaningful investments in the people of Hunts Point and the transformation of this site into a ‘Blue Highway’ superstation to move more goods by water and reduce truck traffic, congestion and air pollution in the South Bronx.”
“The vision to transform the decommissioned Vernon C. Bain Center into the Hunts Point Marine Terminal will usher in a new era for this site that will result in not only a new ‘Blue Highways’ facility, but bring waterfront access, greenway improvements, and much-needed good-paying jobs for the Hunts Point community,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Kimball. “The Hunts Point Marine Terminal will advance a robust and sustainable food distribution supply chain and deliver on critical commitments, including in our ‘Hunts Point Forward’ plan and as part of our Harbor of the Future. We are grateful to Mayor Adams for his vision and leadership, and look forward to working together with our agency partners, elected officials, and the community to make this vision a reality.”
“As DOC modernizes and develops, we bid farewell to the retired Vernon C. Bain Center,” said DOC Commissioner Maginley-Liddie. “We look forward to a new vision for the community and are proud to do our part to facilitate this transfer. We also thank the many people who bravely served at the facility over the past three decades and who dedicated themselves to keeping our city and the people in our care safe.”
MAYOR ADAMS HELPS NEGOTIATE AGREEMENT TO ADD NEARLY 50 PERCENT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO LARGEST REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN U.S. HISTORY AT HUDSON YARDS WEST
New Agreement With Related Companies Adds Roughly 50 Percent More Affordable Housing to Hudson Yards West Project, With At Least 625 Units Now Reserved as Permanently Affordable, Another 139 Existing Units Nearby to Be Preserved as Permanently Affordable
Phase 2 of Project Will Deliver Total of Up to 4,000 Units for New Yorkers
New Phase of Plan Would Create 35,000 Temporary Jobs, 6.6 Acres of Public Space, New 750-Seat K-8 School, and Daycare Facility
Phase 2 of Project Valued at Over $12 Billion, Will Make Entire Hudson Yards Plan Valued at $25 Billion, Largest Real Estate Development in U.S. History
Agreement Continues Adams Administration’s Record Delivering Generational Housing and Economic Development Projects
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a tentative agreement with Related Companies he helped broker to increase the amount of affordable housing at Hudson Yards West by nearly 50 percent over the previous proposal. Phase 2 of the project — which is valued at $12 billion — will now include 4,000 new homes at the site, at least 625 of which will be permanently-affordable units. Additionally, as part of today’s agreement, another 139 units nearby will also be preserved as permanently affordable. Under this tentative agreement, the city will use future tax revenues generated from the Western Rail Yards to support the financing of infrastructure, including the development of a deck over the existing rail yards. In addition to building thousands of new units of housing, the project will also include 6.6 acres of public space, a new K-8 school, and a new daycare facility on the site. The project is expected to create 35,000 temporary jobs throughout the development and construction process. The entire Hudson Yards project is now valued at $25 billion, making it the largest real estate development in U.S. history.
After proposals to redevelop the rail yards stalled for nearly two decades, the agreement announced today continues the Adams administration’s track record delivering generational projects for New Yorkers — including the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years at Willets Point, an $850 million climate research facility on Governors Island, the country’s largest offshore wind port at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, and more.
“When we came into office, we set an ambitious goal of building 500,000 new homes over the coming decade. We said our city could not afford to kick the can down the road any longer and promised to put forward real solutions to solve our generational housing crisis and keep families in the five boroughs. Three years later, we shattered affordable housing records year after year, passed generational zoning changes to create tens of thousands of new homes, and won a long-overdue housing deal from Albany. We’ve done exactly what we promised, and we are continuing that track record of leadership today thanks to this new agreement with Related to add nearly 50 percent more affordable housing to this project,” said Mayor Adams. “With the historic agreement, we will finally bring this decades-long project to life and build thousands of new homes for New Yorkers in the heart of Manhattan. Crucially, we fought to make even more of these units affordable so that working-class New Yorkers can live in the city they help run every day.”
“Today marks a game-changing agreement to move forward with the long-stalled Western Rail Yards project, with the opportunity to deliver thousands of homes, good jobs, a new school, and public space,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “As we’ve done time-and-again on complicated projects, the Adams administration is unlocking underutilized land, building new homes, and creating whole new neighborhoods.”
The agreement reached today with Related adds significantly more permanently affordable housing to the proposed project than previous iterations, increasing the number of units from 420 to at least 625, and builds on the Adams administration’s record as the most pro-housing administration in New York City history. As part of the agreement, Related is expected to take on the construction of the new 750-seat school. Additionally, the city will utilize future tax revenues from the project to support the construction of a new deck over the rail yards, a proven tool to finance infrastructure improvements without requiring direct public subsidies. Following today’s announcement of a framework for the project, the proposal will move forward for approvals by the New York City Council, the New York City Industrial Development Agency, and Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corporation.
Since entering office, Mayor Adams has made historic investments to create more affordable housing and ensure more New Yorkers have a place to call home. The Adams administration is advancing several robust neighborhood plans that, if adopted, would deliver more than 50,000 units over the next 15 years to New York neighborhoods. In addition to the Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan and the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, both of which have been passed by the New York City Council, the Adams administration is advancing plans in Midtown South in Manhattan, as well as Jamaica and Long Island City in Queens.
Moreover, last December, Mayor Adams celebrated the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing proposal in city history that will build 80,000 new homes over 15 years and invest $5 billion towards critical infrastructure updates and housing. Last June, City Hall and the City Council agreed to an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invested $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Housing Authority’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed $24.7 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a generational housing crisis. Mayor Adams celebrated back-to-back record breaking fiscal years, as well as back-to-back calendar years, in both creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing. Last spring, the city celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point transformation.
Further, the Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city’s housing crisis. Mayor Adams announced multiple new tools, including a $4 million state grant, to help New York City homeowners create accessory dwelling units that will not only help older adults afford to remain in the communities they call home but also help build generational wealth. In addition to creating more housing opportunities, the Adams administration is actively working to strengthen tenant protections and support homeowners. The Partners in Preservation program was expanded citywide in 2024 through an $24 million investment in local organizations to support tenant organizing and combat harassment in rent-regulated housing. The Homeowner Help Desk, a trusted one-stop shop for low-income homeowners to receive financial and legal counseling from local organizations, was also expanded citywide in 2024 with a $13 million funding commitment.
Finally, 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 multifamily 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.
Banner Image: Mayor Eric Adams honors Harry Nespoli for 55 years of city service. City Hall. Thursday, June 18, 2025. Image Credit – Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
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