NYC Coalition Forms To Oppose IBX-Related Upzoning Proposals In Central Queens

Coalition Forms to Oppose IBX-related Upzoning Proposals in Central Queens

Editor’s note: Many Staten Island politicians have raised similar concerns, particularly where it comes to upzoning for one and two family homes to make room for taller multi unit apartment buildings that are inappropriate for their neighborhoods, opposition to proposed homeless shelters, and the installation in residential neighborhoods of Battery Energy Storage Stations (BESS) to charge electric cars usually. Asm. Pirozzolo opposes many of these projects as well for being out of character for the neighborhoods they are coming into.  

Queens, NY — A broad coalition of elected officials, civic organizations, homeowner groups, businesses, religious institutions, and community stakeholders is coming together to oppose recent proposals calling for increased density and large-scale rezoning around proposed Interborough Express (IBX) stations in Central Queens.

On Monday evening, a student-led planning report commissioned by the New York City Department of City Planning was presented to Community Board 5’s Land Use Committee. The report recommends significant redevelopment and upzoning throughout portions of Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood, and Elmhurst, including areas surrounding Juniper Valley Park, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Metro Mall, All Faiths Cemetery, and the Shops at Grand Avenue.

The presentation did not fully highlight many of the recommendations contained in the report that residents and community organizations find most concerning.

Joint Statement From The Coalition:

“We stand with the residents, civic leaders, businesses, religious institutions, and community organizations who have expressed deep frustration and concern over this proposal and the process that produced it.

A student-led report commissioned by the Department of City Planning should not be used as a roadmap to upzone our neighborhoods. Our communities were not meaningfully consulted, and several institutions identified in the report or surrounding discussions have already made clear they were not consulted and did not authorize the use of their names.

We oppose any effort to use the proposed Interborough Express as a justification for overdevelopment, or dramatic changes to the character of Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood, Elmhurst, and surrounding communities.

Our neighborhoods are not planning experiments. We will work together to oppose any rezoning proposal stemming from this report and to protect the homes, businesses, institutions, and quality of life that define Central Queens.”

On Wednesday, Our Lady of Hope Parish publicly stated that it was never consulted regarding the report, never authorized the use of its name, and does not support the proposal. The parish further stated that it was “publicly identified without our knowledge or consent.”  The full message states the following:

Statement from Our Lady of Hope Parish

It has come to our attention that a recently published report concerning the proposed Interborough Express (IBX) project identifies Our Lady of Hope Parish as a potential community partner.

We wish to make clear that the parish was not consulted about this report, did not authorize the use of its name, and is not a participant in the project. We are deeply disheartened that our parish was publicly identified without our knowledge or consent.

Furthermore, Our Lady of Hope Parish does not support the proposal and shares the concerns of many residents regarding its potential impact on our neighborhood and community that we have worked to build and sustain since the creation of our parish in 1960.

We remain committed to serving our parishioners and advocating for the well-being of our community.

Several organizations and institutions identified in the report or referenced in public discussions surrounding it have similarly indicated they were not consulted during the preparation of the study, raising serious concerns about the report’s claim to reflect community input.

“A four-month student project is not a community planning process, and our neighborhoods should not be rezoned based on one,” said Wong. “We reject any effort to use the proposed IBX as an excuse for additional density, overdevelopment, or dramatic changes to the character of our communities.”

The Coalition includes:

• Council Member Phil Wong
• State Senator Joseph Addabbo
• Former Council Member Bob Holden
• Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA)
• Communities of Maspeth & Elmhurst Together (COMET)
• Elmhurst United
• Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association (RPOCA)
• Liberty Park Homeowners Association (LPHOA)Paul Graziano, Renowned Planner
• Save1FamilyNY

Community members attend an open house on the Interborough Express Project at the Queens Public Library in Ridgewood, Queens. March 27, 2025. (MTA / Trent Reeves)

Banner Image:  MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber, MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announce an RFP for the design phase of the proposed Interborough Express (IBX) near the future site of the Jackson Heights terminal at 71st St. on Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024. Image Credit – MTA