A panel discussion will focus on the proposal for the redevelopment of Governors Island. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer is hosting a webinar to discuss the future of Governors Island at 6 p.m. on Jan. 20. Those in attendance from the public can voice their opinions and share their concerns about the proposal. Governors Island. Read More
Judge Halts Start Of Public Review Process For Gowanus Rezoning Plan Pending Hearing
arrow The Gowanus Canal rests in a neighborhood the city looks to rezone. Nathan Kensinger / Gothamist
A Brooklyn State Supreme Court judge has ordered the city to hold off on starting the public review process for the long-planned and complex Gowanus rezoning, which is expected to create thousands of affordable housing units by 2035.
The public review phase was supposed to start January 19th, until Judge Donald S. Kurtz issued a temporary restraining order Friday to stop it pending a hearing on January 27th. The city had planned to conduct the review phase, known as the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, virtually, given concerns over the pandemic. This worried community activists who felt it would restrict Brooklynites without internet access from voicing concerns.
Though the entire world was dominated by Covid this year, North Queens was certainly the first section of the city to truly feel its effects. The largely Asian population faced Covid-19 induced discrimination and small shops suffered from a severe drop in business, a struggle they continued to combat throughout the remainder of the year.
Despite the hardships, North Queens pushed through and celebrated many good times â award ceremonies honored its leaders, DJs played free concerts for neighbors, activists took a stand and more.
Hereâs a look back at what the first six months of the infamous 2020 looked like in North Queens.
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Comprehensive-Planning Fantasies New York’s city council hopes that by extending the land-use process, it can make hard choices easier.
New York
Economy, finance, and budgets
In 1936, New York City adopted a new city charter, creating the City Planning Commission and charging it with drafting a master plan that would “provide for the improvement of the city and its future growth and development and afford adequate facilities for the housing, transportation, distribution, comfort, convenience, health and welfare of its population.” Somehow, the Commission never got around to producing this master plan, but the next version of the charter, in 1961, was even more ambitious, adding “business,” “industry,” and “recreation” to the list of “adequate and appropriate” facilities to be included in the plan. Mayor John Lindsay, elected in 1965, was determined to produce a plan as called for by the charter; in 1969, the Plan for New Yor