City Council Sub-Committee Approves 125th Street Rezoning with Major Modifications

Summary

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These modifications significantly alter precisely how the proposed plan will be executed, addressing some of the most common criticisms about affordable housing and height, but the Department of City Planning's stated goal about the plan remains the same, which according to Commissioner Amanda Burden's March press release is to "reinforce the 125th Street Corridor as an important regional business district and bolster its historic role as an arts, entertainment and retail corridor." Essentially, the "what" has not changed, just the "how."

When asked how he responds to the fact that over 150 meetings have been held about the project, including several public forums, [Tony Avella] sticks to his position. "It's still just the community commenting on a plan proposed by the administration. It's not something the community asked for. This is a backdoor approach to community-based planning. This plan will dramatically change the nature and character of Harlem and that's wrong. We're destroying the character and charm of our neighborhoods," said Avella, who has gotten flack from Harlem councilmembers for taking a leadership role in the community group Voices of the Everyday People's (VOTE People) efforts to derail the 125th Street Rezoning Plan.

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City Council Sub-Committee Approves 125th Street Rezoning with Major Modifications

The City Council's zoning and franchises sub-committee voted 10-1 on April 15 to approve the controversial 125th Street Rezoning with fairly substantial modifications. Inez Dickens (D-Manhattan), the council member whose district covers the ma...

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