E-Bike Speed Limit In Effect, Significant Opioid Death Drop, Uzbekistan Heritage, Excellence In Design Recognition, OneLIC Plan Advanced, Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, Kingsbridge Armory Vision, Youth Apprentice Civil Service Track, Challenging Commercial License Immigrant Rule: Mayor Adams

E-Bike Speed Limit In Effect, Significant Opioid Death Drop, Uzbekistan Heritage, Excellence In Design Recognition, OneLIC Plan Advanced, Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, Kingsbridge Armory Vision, Youth Apprentice Civil Service Track, Challenging Commercial License Immigrant Rule: Mayor Adams

Editor’s note: Staten Islander has covered the opioid crisis multiple times in the past, including Senator Gillibrand sounding the alarm on the removal of frontline staff in the opioid crisis, along with the Walk for Recovery in 2022, where we also detailed the hotspotting program that many have said is at least partly responsible for the decine in deaths. 

MAYOR ADAMS ENCOURAGES E-BIKE USERS TO SLOW DOWN AS NEW 15 MPH E-BIKE SPEED LIMIT GOES INTO EFFECT CITYWIDE

Administration Takes Action in Response to Community Concerns and Continues Efforts to Make Streets Safer for All New Yorkers

City Will Prioritize Education Before Enforcement and Conduct Outreach to E-bike Riders

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams today encouraged e-bike and other e-mobility device users to slow down when riding on city streets as a new 15 mile-per-hour (MPH) speed limit for e-bikes takes effect citywide. First announced earlier this year, the Adams administration submitted a final rule in the City Record last month that sets the new speed limit for e-bikes, e-scooters, and pedal-assist commercial bicycles to match the same speed limit that currently applies to stand-up e-scooters. The new rule mirrors best practices for e-bike speeds in many other parts of the world, including the European Union, which has implemented speed restrictions for e-bikes of 25 kilometers-per-hour (approximately 15 MPH) in bike lanes.

“Under our administration, New York City is leading the nation in keeping our streets safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike, and I am proud that our work has led to traffic fatalities dropping to some of the lowest levels in New York City history,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “Our administration has always been one that listens to communities and takes action based on those needs, and, time and again, we have heard New Yorkers from across the five boroughs share their concerns about e-bikes speeding recklessly through our streets. Today, I am thrilled to be delivering for communities across our city by lowering the speed limit for e-bikes to 15 MPH. Lowering the speed limit will protect e-bike riders, pedestrians, and everyone who shares our streets. As New Yorkers adjust to this new law, our focus will be on education first and enforcement second — this includes installing new signage in key cycling corridors and issuing warnings to first time offenders. To be clear, this isn’t about criminalization; it’s about creating safer, fairer conditions for all New Yorkers.”

Overall, traffic fatalities are down significantly in 2025; through the first three quarters, traffic deaths declined by 18 percent compared to the same period last year. Lowering the speed limit will further this progress by protecting e-bike riders, pedestrians, and all who share New York City’s streets.

The city will be focusing on education before enforcement to help New Yorkers adapt to the new rule, including by installing new signage in key cycling corridors and issuing warnings to first-time offenders. The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) are also conducting on-the-ground outreach to raise awareness among e-bike riders. Additionally, this outreach includes safety messaging deployed on LinkNYC kiosks across the city and push notifications via NotifyNYC by email and text — translated into Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Korean, Arabic, Urdu, French, Polish, Italian, and Yiddish. Furthermore, educational materials are being provided to major app and delivery worker organizations to ensure delivery workers are informed of the change.

As cyclists adjust to the new speed limit, the NYPD will issue warnings to cyclists who exceed the speed limit, utilize the 15 MPH rule as a secondary violation when witnessing other offenses, and deploy digital speed signs along major bike lanes to deter speeding. The NYPD will continue to monitor collision data to guide where resources are deployed and ensure enforcement focuses on improving safety for all street users.

The Adams administration continues to stand with delivery workers and is exploring additional steps to support cycling growth, including by launching the Department of Sustainable Delivery within the DOT to hold delivery apps accountable and further improve safety for riders and pedestrians. New York City has supported delivery workers in transitioning to safer, certified bikes and batteries. Through the E-Bike Trade-in Program, over 400 delivery workers have received free certified e-bikes and batteries in exchange for illegal or unsafe vehicles. Since the start of the Adams administration, the city has focused on removing illegal vehicles from city streets — with the NYPD seizing more than 120,000 illegal motorized vehicles and ghost cars — a major effort directly tied to making the city’s streets safer for everyone.

Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks at Veterans Day Breakfast. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

 

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NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse today announced new data released by DOHMH that shows a significant decrease in overdose deaths in New York City in 2024 — marking the first substantial decrease following a nearly 10-year period of increasing overdose deaths in the five boroughs. There were 2,192 deaths last year, down from 3,056 in 2023, mirroring national trends, and overdose deaths decreased almost universally across demographic groups and neighborhoods in 2024. Additionally, residents of all five boroughs saw decreases in overdose deaths and, for the first time since 2018, overdose deaths decreased among Black and Latino New Yorkers; however, significant racial and geographic inequities persist.

“The data we are releasing today represents a major shift in a decades-long overdose crises that has claimed the lives of so many New Yorkers and Americans across the nation. Progress on reducing opioid overdoses will never make up for the families that have been devastated and the communities torn apart by these drugs, but it gives us hope that brighter days are ahead,” said Mayor Adams. “I am proud of the work our administration has done to stay focused on this issue by pursuing litigation and using funds from opioid settlements proactively, strategically, and forcefully to support those who are struggling. We will continue to make the right investments in programs and treatments that help keep New Yorkers safe and healthy.”

“While we are finally seeing the needle move on fatal overdoses across the city, too many New Yorkers still continue to die from preventable deaths,” said DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Morse. “As city leaders, we must be steadfast in our support of programs that save lives, while we continue to address historic disinvestment and other forms of structural racism. I am grateful for the tireless dedication of advocates, local providers, Health Department staff, and partners inside and outside government as we work to keep our communities and neighbors safe and connected to care.”

Earlier this summer, Mayor Adams announced that New York City saw the lowest quarter in five years for opioid overdose deaths while making further investments to drive down opioid overdoses. In 2023, New York City saw a slight decline for the first time since 2018 in overdose deaths.

Despite seeing promising decreases, inequities in overdose deaths still persist in New York City. Black and Latino New Yorkers each saw a 29 percent reduction in overdose deaths but died at twice the rate of their white counterparts. While the rate of fatal overdose decreased 24 percent among Bronx residents, the borough continues to have the highest rate of overdose deaths — at more than double the rate of Manhattan, the borough with the second-highest rate. The rate of overdose deaths among Staten Island residents decreased by about 49 percent. Residents of Hunts Point-Mott Haven, Highbridge-Morrisania, Crotona-Tremont, East Harlem, and Fordham-Bronx Park continued to bear the greatest burden of overdose deaths in 2024.

Securing Opioid Settlement Funds

Today’s announcement builds on the work the city has done to bring justice to the victims and families of the opioid epidemic, including just last month, when the city announced steps toward recovering approximately $48 million from a new proposed settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. In January 2018, the City of New York sued manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids to remedy the harms caused within the city by the misleading marketing and improper distribution of these drugs. New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a similar lawsuit in March 2019. Settlements reached by both the city and the state, as well as a court victory by Attorney General James, have provided the City of New York alone with nearly $190 million as of the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, which, with the most recent settlement, is expected to grow to a total of more than $550 million by 2041. In April 2022, Mayor Adams and Attorney General James announced allocations for the first of hundreds of millions of dollars coming to New York City to combat the opioid crisis. In September 2024, Mayor Adams announced city funding will ramp up to an annual $50 million for opioid prevention and treatment.

Investing in Treatment and Supports

To address the continued need for comprehensive services, the city continues to invest in evidence-based practices and partner with local providers to reach the communities most in need. In FY 2025 alone, the city allocated $41 million across DOHMH, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the Office of the New York City Chief Medical Examiner to support the expansion of services around the city and enhance the existing network of care.

Ongoing funds from opioid settlements through DOHMH have supported wraparound services for syringe service programs, including on-site medical care, connections to health care and social services, and support for basic needs. In FY 2025, syringe service programs that operate Overdose Prevention Centers provided approximately 39,000 harm reduction services to more than 8,000 participants, reducing the risk of overdose and infectious disease and providing referrals to treatment and other health and social services. In 2023, the Adams administration also allocated $3 million to eight providers on Staten Island through a request for proposal to directly support the expansion of buprenorphine treatment, outreach and engagement, and care navigation services in the borough. This past July, the city announced $4 million in annual funding for nine outpatient and opioid treatment programs citywide to increase access to methadone and buprenorphine. Contracting for the expansion of the number of hospitals participating in DOHMH’s emergency department-based nonfatal opioid overdose response program called Relay remains ongoing.

Since beginning to receive funding through opioid settlements, NYC Health + Hospitals has had over 9,700 patient engagements with expanded substance use services at Street Health Outreach and Wellness vans, nearly 83,000 encounters with patients in emergency departments with addiction services provided by the Emergency Department Leads program, and has successfully launched a cutting-edge addiction simulation training for emergency department prescribers. Additionally, NYC Health + Hospitals has provided comprehensive addiction consultations at over 24,700 inpatient admissions through the Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals program.

Further, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group program has offered support services to more than 4,000 individuals following the death of a loved one from an overdose.

All actions taken by Mayor Adams and the Adams administration to prevent overdose deaths also underscore the administration’s efforts to improve and extend the average lifespan of all New Yorkers through “HealthyNYC” to 83 years by 2030. HealthyNYC sets ambitious targets to address the greatest drivers of premature death, including chronic and diet-related diseases, screenable cancers, overdose, suicide, maternal mortality, violence, and COVID-19.

New Yorkers looking to access substance use services can call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7. Resources can also be found on the “NYC HealthMap” and on DOHMH’s website.

Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks at Veterans Day Breakfast. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR ADAMS HOSTS UZBEKISTAN HERITAGE RECEPTION

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much, Anastasia, and really thank you, thank you for coming out today. We were extremely proud when we raised the Uzbek flag for the first time in the city, down at Bowling Green. It has been our goal to state that no community should live in the shadows of what this country has to offer. 

And you have shown us time and time again in the city, you believe in family, you believe in faith, you believe in business, and most importantly, you believe in public safety. And each time we host events here at Gracie Mansion, this is your first event you’re holding here. We love to acknowledge our men and women of the law enforcement community who’s here, men and women of the New York City Police Department. They keep us safe, and we should always lift them up in prayers and support. 

And I want to thank my good friend, Alec Brook-Krasny, who is an assembly member who leads an important part of Brooklyn. Brooklyn, as you know, New York is the Tashkent of America, but Brooklyn is the capital of that. The largest Uzbek community lives here in New York City. 

And you have historically been the bridge, the Silk Road between the East and how we ensure we did trade and communication. I want you to do that also here in New York City. Your abilities to interact with all of our various communities we think is crucial. 

I love all of my stans, Kazakhstan and the others, but Uzbekistan is growing, your country is becoming stronger and stronger every day. And so, as you embrace the life of America, do not abandon the beauty of Uzbekistan. Our country calls for you to hold on to your culture, your food, your clothing, your dance, your music, your way of life. We want that to be part of the overall plan of what makes the diversity of this city a great city to raise children and families. 

So again, I thank you. You grace us with your presence by being here at Gracie Mansion and adding to the other ethnic communities that have come out. We’ve had 70 roundtables with all of our various groups. No mayor has ever done that before. It is our way of saying you are welcome here, in this city and in this country and you have added to the greatness of this country. This is the greatest city on the globe because we have the greatest people on the globe here in New York. Thank you very much.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams votes in the 2025 New York City General Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Public Design Commission (PDC) Executive Director Sreoshy Banerjea, and PDC President Deborah Marton, today announced the winners of the 43rd Annual Awards for Excellence in Design. Selected by PDC from hundreds of submissions, this year’s honorees include 13 award winners and two special recognitions that showcase the city’s creative and ongoing commitment to using public design to improve quality of life across the five boroughs. From waterfronts that work with rising waters to historic monuments that uplift underrepresented voices, the winners exemplify the power of design to keep people safe, build a more resilient city, and create more accessible public spaces.

“The architect Jan Gehl has said, ‘First we shape cities, then they shape us.’ The projects we celebrate today embody that creed, showcasing the dynamic interplay between good urban design and safety, health, and success,” said Mayor Adams. “Each of these awardees is helping make New York City the best place to raise a family, using public design to keep our city safe and make our public spaces more accessible and inclusive. Congratulations to all the awardees for helping build the city that every New Yorker deserves.”

“These award-winning projects demonstrate how impactful civic design emerges from genuine collaboration,” said PDC Executive Director Banerjea. “Behind each beautiful space is invisible work: years of multiple agencies coordinating, countless community meetings, and designers solving complex challenges. When diverse perspectives truly come together — across agencies, with communities, alongside talented designers — we transform constraints into innovation that serves all New Yorkers.”

“PDC’s impact is felt everywhere New Yorkers live, work, and gather,” said PDC President Marton. “In an effort to shape projects that will meet needs defined by users, we prioritize community voices. Whether it’s a neighborhood library, flood-resilient waterfront, or new firehouse, we listen and work to help communities achieve their design goals. These projects show how collaboration between designers and public servants tells our shared story, transforming daily life across our city.”

PDC has jurisdiction over permanent structures, landscape architecture, and art proposed on or over city-owned property. Its mission is to advocate for innovative, sustainable, and equitable design of public spaces and civic structures, with the goal of improving the public realm and enhancing services for all New Yorkers across the five boroughs.

Since 1983, PDC has recognized well-designed public projects with its Annual Awards for Excellence in Design. The winning projects are selected from submissions reviewed by the commission the previous year and exemplify how innovative and thoughtful design can enhance the livability of the city, serve communities, inspire neighborhood pride, and provide durable and resilient spaces for New Yorkers. These winning projects tackle some of the city’s most pressing challenges: adapting to climate change, expanding universal access for New Yorkers with disabilities, honoring diverse cultural traditions, and creating community spaces that serve all New Yorkers equitably.

Running of the TCS NYC Marathon on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT AFTER CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE VOTES TO ADVANCE ONELIC NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the New York City Council Land Use and Zoning Committees voted in favor of the Adams administration’s OneLIC Neighborhood Plan, moving it on to a vote by the full Council: 

“From manufacturing to filmmaking, Long Island City has led many lives over the decades. But while much of this neighborhood has seen remarkable growth, other parts have remained frozen in time, stymied by an outdated zoning code that limits new housing and curtails new jobs. At a moment when too many people are still struggling to find an affordable place to live, we have to move past the status quo and say ‘yes’ to more homes and more jobs — and that is exactly what the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan will do.

“As the largest neighborhood-specific rezoning across the five boroughs in at least 25 years, the OneLIC plan will create over 14,000 jobs and nearly 15,000 new homes, including as many as 4,350 permanently affordable homes. It will help build a future where New Yorkers can live, work, and raise their families — all in the same neighborhood. But this plan is about more than just homes and jobs; it’ll bolster Long Island City’s infrastructure and improve everyday life for residents, workers, students, and visitors. Through significant investments in new public parks, new schools, and more, we’re setting the stage for a more vibrant Long Island City where people from all walks of life can come together.

“When it comes to housing, our administration is putting in the work every single day to get shovels in the ground and homes built across the five boroughs. Whether it’s overhauling old zoning codes, investing a record amount of money into affordable housing, or delivering over 433,000 homes for New Yorkers, we are proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history; New Yorkers deserve nothing less.

“Thank you to Council Speaker Adams, Land Use Committee Chair Salamanca, Jr., Zoning Subcommittee Chair Riley, and Councilmember Won for their support for this far-reaching proposal and for working with our administration to create the homes that New Yorkers need. With today’s vote, we’re one step closer to writing the next great chapter of this vital, dynamic Queens community and look forward to crossing the finish line with a full vote next month.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosts a reception celebrating Día de Muertos at Gracie Mansion on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Photo Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

MOST PRO-HOUSING ADMINISTRATION IN CITY HISTORY: MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF
ADMINISTRATION’S JAMAICA NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN THAT WILL CREATE APPROXIMATELY 12,000 NEW HOMES, 7,000 NEW JOBS 

Plan Will Create 12,000 New Homes Across Nearly 230 Blocks of Jamaica, Including 4,000 Permanently Affordable Homes 

Will Deliver New and Expanded Commercial and Industrial Space for 7,000 Jobs Adams Administration Will Invest Over $400 Million in Neighborhood, Including Sewer and Public Space Upgrades

Thanks to Initiatives Like Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, Adams Administration Has Created, Preserved, or Planned Over 433,000 Homes for New Yorkers to Date 

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 Adams administration’s “Jamaica Neighborhood Plan.” The fourth DCP-led neighborhood plan approved under the Adams administration, this ambitious initiative will create tens of thousands of new homes, add thousands of jobs, and invest hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure in Jamaica, Queens. The plan will update the area’s zoning code to create nearly 12,000 new homes across nearly 230 blocks of this transit-accessible neighborhood. Additionally, by mapping Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) in the neighborhood at scale for the first time and requiring new developments to include affordable housing, the plan will ensure that approximately 4,000 of the new homes are permanently affordable, creating the largest MIH area in the city to date. The plan also opens the door to new commercial and industrial space, unlocking economic opportunities for residents and businesses and creating 7,000 new permanent jobs. To support this growth, the Adams administration will invest over $400 million in infrastructure, including sewer upgrades to reduce flooding; new and improved public spaces; safer, more walkable streets; and more. With today’s approval, the Adams administration has now paved the way for 110,000 new homes through city-led rezonings or text amendments alone, including Mayor Adams’ signature “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity.” The Adams administration’s rezoning efforts are expected to create more new housing than the previous two mayoral administrations’ rezoning efforts combined. In total, the Adams administration has created, preserved, or planned over 433,250 homes for New Yorkers through its work to date.

“From bustling storefronts to busy train lines, Jamaica is exactly where our city should be building new housing and creating new jobs. For too long, the neighborhood’s outdated zoning code has made it harder to do both; but today, we changed that,” said Mayor Adams. “With the historic passage of our administration’s ‘Jamaica Neighborhood Plan,’ we have opened the door to thousands of new homes, thousands of new jobs, and delivered hundreds of millions of dollars for new infrastructure. When it comes to housing, our administration has done more than just talk about it; we’ve passed historic zoning reforms, invested record amounts of money into affordable housing, and opened the door to 426,000 homes for New Yorkers. Thanks to these efforts and more, we are proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history.”

“Anyone who has spent time in Jamaica knows that it’s one of the city’s most bustling hubs, but for too long, outdated zoning held it back. Thanks to today’s vote, that will change; Jamaica will see new homes, jobs, and investments that improve life for everyone who lives, works, and spends time there,” said DCP Director and CPC Chair Garodnick. “Thank you to Mayor Adams, Speaker Adams, Chairs Salamanca and Riley, Councilmember Gennaro, and Councilmember Williams, with special appreciation for her leadership and support of this community-driven plan that will help Jamaica become an even stronger and more vibrant neighborhood.”

A More Affordable and Prosperous Jamaica

Tailored to respect the unique character of each of the neighborhood’s different hubs and corridors, the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan would update zoning to spur the creation of nearly 12,000 new homes. Approximately 4,000 of those homes would be permanently income-restricted and affordable through a combination of both MIH — making these nearly 230 blocks the largest geographic area in New York City where this policy has been mapped to-date — and through direct city financing of affordable homes on city-owned land. As part of these efforts, the Adams administration has committed to building a total of nearly 120 income-restricted affordable homes across five city-owned sites along Guy R. Brewer Boulevard and Union Hall Street in Queens.

The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan would bring additional updates to:

• The Downtown Core: Allow high-density, mixed-use developments with permanently affordable housing, active ground floor retail, and community services along Jamaica Avenue and Archer Avenue, a transit-rich area served by the E, J, and Z trains. Densities slightly decrease further north, between Jamaica Avenue and Hillside Avenue.
• Southern Corridors: Encourage mixed-use, mid-rise developments with locally-serving retail and community facilities along Hillside Avenue, western Jamaica Avenue, Liberty Avenue, Sutphin Boulevard, Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, and Merrick Boulevard.
• South Core: For the first time in 60 years, bring new housing immediately to the south of Jamaica Station and the Jamaica Center – Parsons/Archer subway station. It will also generate commercial and light manufacturing near world-class transit resources. 
• Industrial Growth Area: New growth manufacturing zoning supports new employment and local businesses. 

The plan will support homeowners through the Homeowner Help Desk and HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program, which assist with mortgages and repair payments, help prevent foreclosure, and offer legal advice. Renters will have access to the Partners in Preservation program, which in coordination with Catholic Migration Services, will support tenants and combat landlord harassment and displacement.

The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan will also generate over 2 million square feet of new commercial and community facility space, ultimately creating over 7,000 new jobs and strengthening Jamaica’s role as a live-work neighborhood where residents can find good-paying jobs close to home. It will provide funding for small business and workforce training programs to ensure workers and business owners can take advantage of these new economic opportunities.

A More Resilient Jamaica

To address long-standing flooding challenges as the community grows, the plan will fund $315 million in upgrades to Jamaica’s sanitary sewer infrastructure, starting at the Jamaica Bay Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility and heading north towards Downtown Jamaica. This generational investment builds on the $2.64 billion the Adams administration has already committed to installing storm sewers and creating a comprehensive drainage system in Southeast Queens.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will also work with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the New York City Housing Authority, and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to invest in green infrastructure projects throughout Jamaica. The city will also dedicate $7 million in funding for City Council grants to help not-for-profits retrofit their basements to prevent flooding damage as well. DEP will also chair an interagency task force focused on Southeast Queens flooding adaptation assistance that will includes representatives from city agencies, the Office of the Public Advocate, and the City Council.

Additionally, the plan invests heavily in public health infrastructure for those who live, work, and play in the neighborhood. It will dedicate around $80 million to provide a hospital expansion of the NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens’ Claire Shulman Pavilion, build a Queens Neighborhood Health Action Center, and establish a new Trauma Recovery Center in Downtown Jamaica.

A More Vibrant Jamaica

The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan will enhance streetscapes and public spaces to make the neighborhood safer, more walkable, and more welcoming. As part of the Jamaica NOW plan, the city will continue its revamp of Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 168^th Place with bus bulbs, curb extensions, improved lighting, green infrastructure, public art, and increased open space to reinforce the corridor as the distinctive retail and cultural artery of Downtown Jamaica.

Other transportation improvements include reconstructing 165^th Street as a shared street for pedestrians, safety improvements for pedestrians along Merrick Boulevard between Liberty Avenue and Linden Boulevard, Vision Zero safety improvements between Merrick Boulevard and Sutphin Boulevard, a new bike boulevard along 160^th Street, and a calm corridor redesign for 109^th Avenue between the Van Wyck Expressway and 175 Street — all connecting parks and schools across the neighborhood. DOT will also conduct a comprehensive areawide traffic study and Neighborhood Transportation Planning Analysis to help inform additional potential street and transit improvement projects.

For the public realm, the plan includes major investment into the Archer Avenue Bus Terminal area, which is the largest bus to rail transfer in North America, as well as nearly $50 million to construct two new vibrant transit plazas at the intersections of Archer Avenue with 146^th Street, Sutphin Boulevard, and 147^th Place. These public spaces will offer nearby residents, workers, students, and commuters a place to relax in one of the most bustling parts of Queens. The plan will also create new park space for the community at 138^th Street & the Van Wyck Expressway and at 142^nd Street & 107^th Avenue. It will dedicate tens of millions of dollars to improve beloved parks throughout Jamaica, including Archie Sprigner Park, Baisley Pond Park, Captain Tilly Park, Detective Keith Williams Park, Marconi Park, and Rufus King Park.

Several educational investments are also featured in the plan, such as funds for capital improvements at local schools, the continued development of a Queens Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics Center, the first of its kind in Queens, as well as upgrades to York College, including a more accessible campus, a new public space in the reopened 159^th Street underpass, and an improved Union Hall Street underpass with augmented lighting, seating, and more.

Planning with the Community

Building on two years of public engagement, the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan reflects the priorities of local residents, stakeholders, and elected officials. Outreach was guided by a steering committee with over 50 neighborhood stakeholders — including elected officials, Queens Community Boards 8 and 12, and many local advocacy groups — and included 40 in-person and virtual public meetings that received approximately 3,000 comments. DCP also worked with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Voice to Vision, an online tool that visualized how community feedback shaped the plan’s vision and goals. The proposal received a favorable recommendation from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and approval by the City Planning Commission during the formal Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).

To make sure the community remains involved in the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan’s implementation over the coming years, an independent Downtown Jamaica Oversight Task Force will be convened by the City Council with the administration’s support to provide regular updates on the status of plan commitments.

“Today’s vote marks a historic moment for Southeast Queens and one of the largest investments in Jamaica in decades. With new affordable homes, jobs, and long-overdue infrastructure improvements on the way, this plan represents a real opportunity to shape the future of Jamaica in partnership with the community,” said New York City Councilmember Nantasha Williams. “As we move forward, continued oversight and collaboration through the Downtown Jamaica Task Force will be key to ensuring these investments deliver lasting impact for the people who call Jamaica home.”

“The Greater Allen Development Corporation celebrates the City Council’s approval of the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan as a significant step toward an inclusive and sustainable future for our community. We are proud to partner with the City and local stakeholders to ensure that the growth of Jamaica reflects the needs and aspirations of its longtime residents while creating opportunities for future generations,” said Harold H. Flake, president, Greater Allen Development Corporation.

“With today’s City Council approval, the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan moves a step closer to reality. This bold, forward-looking blueprint will deliver thousands of new homes, including deeply affordable housing, while creating opportunities for local businesses and good jobs for residents of southeast Queens,” said Thomas J. Grech, president and chief executive officer (CEO), Queens Chamber of Commerce. “With targeted investments in infrastructure, transit, and open space, Jamaica is poised to grow and thrive for generations to come. We applaud Speaker Adrienne Adams for her leadership, Chair Dan Garodnick and the City Planning Commission for their vision, and Mayor Eric Adams and local leaders for their commitment to making this plan a reality.”

“The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan will do exactly what a 21st-century city is supposed to do: build homes, create jobs, and invest in a 24/7 transit-oriented community. This plan will unlock nearly 12,000 new apartments, with roughly 4,000 permanently affordable. It’s also a jobs plan, with 7,000 new jobs and more than 2 million square feet of new commercial and community space. This is how you keep a neighborhood strong: you build housing people can actually afford, you make room for local business to grow, and you deliver real public investment on the ground in Jamaica,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., president and CEO, New York Building Congress.

“We appreciate the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan because it shows how important community partnerships are to our mission at York College/CUNY. It’s great to see the plan shaped by local voices and focused on equity,” said Dr. Claudia Schrader, president, York College. “The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan offers a unique chance to bring much-needed investment to Jamaica and York College. These investments will help York expand educational and career opportunities for our students, residents, and future leaders.”

“Jamaica is primed for unprecedented growth and investment,” said Justin Rodgers, president & CEO, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation. “The approval of the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, coupled with recent development news and the potential expansion of Resorts World make Southeast Queens the city’s next hot spot. We appreciate the Adams Administration, the Department of City Planning, Borough President Richards and Council Member Dr. Williams for their commitment to Jamaica.”

“As New York City faces a historically low vacancy rate of 1.4% — with Queens even lower at 0.88% — we must take every opportunity to build more homes,” said Andrew Fine, chief of staff and policy director, Open New York. “The Jamaica Neighborhood Plan is among the largest rezonings in decades, and with nearly every LIRR line stopping in the rezoning area, this plan will allow more New Yorkers to commute car-free to both Manhattan and Long Island. Thank you to Speaker Adams and Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams for getting this rezoning to the finish line. Looking ahead, the pro-housing charter amendments will help ensure that New Yorkers in every neighborhood can benefit from the same opportunity to welcome new homes and new neighbors.”

Most Pro-Housing Administration in City History

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. Earlier this year, Mayor Adams announced that his administration has created, preserved, or planned approximately 426,800 homes for New Yorkers through its work to date. Mayor Adams also announced that, in Fiscal Year 2025, the Adams administration created the most affordable rental units in city history and celebrated back-to-back-to-back record-breaking years for producing permanently-affordable homes for formerly-homeless New Yorkers, placing homeless New Yorkers into housing, and connecting New Yorkers to housing through the city’s housing lottery. Thanks to the Adams administration’s recently-unveiled Jewel Streets Neighborhood Plan and additional New York City Housing Authority Permanent Affordability Commitment Together closings in July, the Adams administration has now created, preserved, or planned over 433,250 homes.

In addition to creating and preserving record amounts of affordable and market-rate housing for New Yorkers, the Adams administration has also passed ambitious plans that will create tens of thousands of new homes as well. 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 in critical infrastructure updates and housing.

The Adams administration is also advancing several robust neighborhood plans that, if adopted, would deliver nearly 50,000 homes over the next 15 years to New York neighborhoods. In addition to the Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan, the Midtown South plan, and the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan — all of which have already been passed by the New York City Council — the Adams administration is also advancing plans in Jamaica and Long Island City in Queens.

Building on the success of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, Mayor Adams unveiled his “City of Yes for Families” strategy in his State of the City address earlier this year to build more homes and create more family-friendly neighborhoods across New York City. Under City of Yes for Families, the Adams administration is advancing more housing on city-owned sites, creating new tools to support homeownership, and building more housing alongside schools, playgrounds, grocery stores, accessible transit stations, and libraries.

Further, the Adams administration is actively working to strengthen tenant protections and support homeowners. The “Partners in Preservation” program was expanded citywide in 2024 through a $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 are already helping 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.

The Public Design Commission’s 43rd Annual Awards for Excellence in Design. City Hall. Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball, 8th Regiment Partners, and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) today celebrated the New York City Council’s approval of an ambitious plan to transform the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx into a thriving, community-centered hub. The proposal — which was unveiled by Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, and U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat earlier this year and shaped by the “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan” — includes two phases. The first phase will create a state-of-the-art venue space for entertainment, recreational space, cultural and commercial space, light industrial manufacturing space, and over 25,000 square feet of dedicated community space. The second phase will create approximately 500 units of permanently-affordable rental housing adjacent to the armory. Backed by $216 million in city, state, and federal investments, the sweeping proposal is expected to add nearly $2.9 billion to the city’s economy and create about 3,600 jobs, with an emphasis on hiring from the local community.

“From training troops during the first World War to distributing food during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kingsbridge Armory has served our city for more than a century. With today’s vote, we begin work on the next chapter in its dynamic history and building a brighter future for the Bronx,” said Mayor Adams. “With hundreds of affordable homes and tens of thousands of square feet of commercial, community, and manufacturing space, this ambitious proposal will give the Bronx vital space to work, live, and come together. Other administrations have talked about transforming this space, but our administration got it done. Thank you to the thousands of community members who weighed in on the future of the armory and the community leaders who have supported it.”

“Today’s City Council vote marks a major step toward bringing Bronx communities together — creating hundreds of affordable homes, thousands of good-paying, local jobs, and a vibrant community space where neighbors can connect,” said Governor Hochul. “This project has been decades in the making, and now we’re finally getting it done. The Kingsbridge Armory will remain a cornerstone of the Bronx, driving economic growth and strengthening Kingsbridge Heights. Thank you to our partners in city and local government and community leaders for supporting this ambitious plan as we work together to get it over the finish line.”

“With the reimagining of the Kingsbridge Armory, we will see affordable housing opportunities, good-paying union jobs with pathways to the middle class, recreational space for youth and families, support for small businesses, and a true commitment to equitable economic development in the Bronx that we have not seen for decades,” said Bronx Borough President Gibson. “Thank you to New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Majority Leader Amanda Farías, Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, the members of the Bronx Delegation, and the entire New York City Council for today’s vote to move this transformative plan forward. I also want to express my gratitude to Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, 8th Regiment Partners, and the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition for their partnership and continued support in advancing this historic project. The redevelopment of this landmark in the heart of the Northwest Bronx stands as a testament to our shared commitment to driving unprecedented investment back into our borough, while fulfilling the blueprint outlined in the Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan.”

“Today’s City Council vote is a victory for Kingsbridge Heights and for the Bronx, and all but guarantees that the city can move forward in redeveloping the historic Kingsbridge Armory into a dynamic, mixed-use hub that will finally usher in a new era for this site,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Kimball. “For the last three years, NYCEDC has been collaborating closely with elected officials, stakeholders, and the community to ensure that a redeveloped armory delivers on the needs of the community, and following today’s vote, our development partner, 8th Regiment Partners, can begin working on a construction timeline and eventual groundbreaking ceremony.”

Over the last decade, the Kingsbridge Armory has served as an emergency supply and food distribution center following Hurricane Sandy, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and after the Twin Parks fire. In November 2022, the Adams administration, local elected officials, and community leaders kicked off a community-driven engagement process to work with the surrounding community and outline a new vision for the future of the armory. Following that process, which engaged over 4,000 community members, the Adams administration unveiled the “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan” in August 2023 to inform proposals for the redevelopment. In January 2025, following a competitive request for proposals process, the Adams administration announced the winning two-part proposal for the site, led by 8th Regiment Partners LLC and designed to serve both the local community and the broader region.

In June 2025, building on the winning proposal, Regiment Partners and NWBCCC announced an unprecedented collaborative agreement with the development team to join the project and help maximize community input and ownership. The agreement commits to maintaining high environmental standards and emphasizes community ownership by establishing a Community Council, co-convened by NWBCCC. This council will provide ongoing input on tenant mix, programming, and additional strategies for community investment. Additionally, a Community Benefit Fund — funded through project revenue and governed by the Community Council — will support long-term local investments in initiatives aimed at wealth-building and community ownership. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in June between NWBCCC and 8th Regiment Partners, a joint venture of Maddd Equities and Joy Construction.

Separately, NWBCCC — alongside nearly 40 labor, faith, and community organizations — partnered with 8th Regiment Partners to execute a comprehensive Community Benefits Agreement that includes commitments to local hiring, living wages, environmental sustainability, small business protections, and affordability provisions to ensure that Kingsbridge residents and merchants are active participants in the Armory’s economic success.

The first phase of the redevelopment will consist of a mixed-use development with a state-of-the-art venue space, recreational space, cultural and commercial space, and over 25,000 square feet of dedicated community space and is centered around the 180,000-square-foot, column-free Drill Hall within the armory, expected to break ground in 2026 and be completed in 2030. The building will also include 125,000 square feet of community-owned manufacturing and community space for community use. Phase two consists of the redevelopment of the adjacent National Guard site, which will create 500 units of permanently-affordable rental housing adjacent to the armory, expected to be completed in 2032.

The Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment is backed by a $200 million investment by Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, $3 million from Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, $12 million from New York City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, and a $1.05 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the support of Representative Espaillat. The construction will be executed under a project labor agreement, ensuring fair wages and benefits for construction workers.

The Kingsbridge Armory opened in 1917 and was used by the U.S. military until 1994, before reverting to city ownership in 1996. The armory was designated as a New York City Landmark in 1974 and placed on the National Register for Historic Places list in 1982.

“Today is a day of celebration for our members and the Bronx as the Kingsbridge Armory will finally be redeveloped into a place that will be of great benefit to the community while providing local-hiring and union jobs for many New Yorkers,” said Gary LaBarbera, president, New York City and New York State Building and Construction Trades Council. “We are grateful to the city, state, and federal officials that made this project possible and are especially grateful to NYCEDC and 8th Regiment Partners who have agreed to enter into a Project Labor Agreement to ensure good-paying jobs for construction workers of the Armory building.”

“Today, we celebrate the NYC Economic Development Corporation, Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition for their efforts in bringing this proposal closer to reality,” said Karla Cabrera Carrera, district manager, and Leurys Acosta, chairperson, Bronx Community Board 7. “We commend 8th Regiment Partners LLC for engaging with the community and incorporating their ideas into the proposal. We look forward to the community benefits that will help Kingsbridge and The Bronx thrive even more.”

“Today marks a historic moment in the process of redeveloping the Kingsbridge Armory,” said Jorge Madruga, principal, 8th Regiment Partners. “The Kingsbridge Armory will become an economic engine for the Bronx, and we are proud that the City Council sees that potential, and that we are able to deliver on that promise for the community. Thank you to the City Council, Mayor Adams, Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, all of our partners, community advocates, and neighbors that have supported this project so far. We look forward to enacting our vision for the future of this landmark space.”

“Today’s vote to realize the community’s vision for the Kingsbridge Armory is a monumental achievement for our coalition, and a powerful testament to what’s possible through sustained collaborative community leadership,” said Sandra Lobo, executive director, NWBCCC. “From the kickoff of the Together for Kingsbridge visioning process to the Community Benefits Agreement secured and the community ownership structure integrated into the project, we’ve worked to ensure that every step of the Armory’s redevelopment invests in the residents, business owners, leaders, and young people who call Kingsbridge home. This project centers community priorities, leverages local assets, and ensures that Bronx workers, residents, and small businesses have access to good family-sustaining jobs, affordable space and real opportunities to build shared wealth. I am grateful to Councilmember Sanchez, the Adams and Hochul administrations, our labor partners, and our 4,000-member coalition for their partnership in bringing us to this moment. We look forward to continuing the work together to deliver a community-led, community-owned Armory project.”

By transforming the Kingsbridge Armory into a community-centered hub with commercial space, cultural space, and affordable housing, the proposal passed today will add $2.9 billion to the city’s economy and create nearly 3,600 jobs. Credit: FXCollaborative.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosts a reception celebrating Día de Muertos at Gracie Mansion on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Photo Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

New York City Mayor Eric Adams host a “Faith in Your Borough” town hall with multifaith leaders at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

Banner Image: New York City Mayor Eric Adams host a “Faith in Your Borough” town hall with multifaith leaders at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office