Inwood NYC Update CB 12 Land Use Committee May 3, 2017
Overview 1. Inwood NYC Recap 2. Community Engagement 3. Early City Investments - Investing in the people of Inwood - Improving neighborhood infrastructure - Preserving and creating affordable housing 4. Zoning - Inwood Special District - Expanded Rezoning Area: Initial Findings & Principles for Feedback 5. What s Next? 2
Inwood NYC: COMMUNITY PRIORITIES GOAL: Ensure that Inwood continues to be an affordable, attractive neighborhood for working families. Inwood NYC is a comprehensive plan for investment in Inwood s future, aimed at achieving the following community-identified priorities: Preserving existing affordable housing and protecting tenants from harassment Providing new affordable housing Preserving and strengthening existing neighborhood character Extending the mixed-use residential neighborhood to the Harlem River and creating a public waterfront Supporting small businesses, job training, and access to quality jobs Investing in infrastructure, such as parks and sewers, and allowing for new community spaces Edit Footer Here 3
Community Engagement to date Over 1,800 local stakeholders engaged through Inwood NYC over 24 months Phase One: Information Gathering Phase Two: Development of Neighborhood Plan Spring Summer 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2017 Meetings & Interviews with local community groups Stakeholder meetings Community Board 12 presentation (June 2015) 1 Large Public Forums: FALL 2015 SUMMER 2016 Fall Public Open House Public Planning Workshops Housing Small Business Parks & Streets Neighborhood Zoning Community Services Housing & Zoning Winter Public Open House Summer Public Open House 2 3 Stakeholder Working Group Meetings: SUMMER 2016 Engaged 35+ local nonprofit service providers, civic groups, business leaders, faith leaders, & interested community members Presentations to Community Groups: SUMMER FALL 2016 Community Board 12, Inwood Owners Coalition, Faith Leaders Breakfast, Inwood Preservation Edit Footer Here 4
Community & Elected Feedback In response to community concerns, the City is expanding the rezoning area west of 10 th Avenue to encompass the entire Inwood NYC study area What We ve Heard Strong desire to expand rezoning area to address concerns: - Potential for one-off private developments in the absence of a comprehensive, public land use framework - No existing height or street wall requirements in R7-2 districts - No existing affordability requirements Need for contextual zoning districts to preserve existing neighborhood character How We re Responding City is committed to expand the rezoning area to include areas west of 10 th Avenue and north of Dyckman Street Currently studying implications and will present initial principles for feedback Excerpt from Electeds letter to Mayor De Blasio: We therefore request that the Administration expand the rezoning area to include a contextual rezoning framework in Inwood west of 10 th Avenue, where appropriate, to ensure that development balances the goals of creating new affordable housing with preserving the neighborhood context and jobs. Council Member Ydanis Rodríguez & Borough President Gale Brewer Edit Footer Here 5
Investing in the People of Inwood The City has already made significant commitments as part of Inwood NYC KEY INVESTMENTS & INITIATIVES TO DATE Improving access to job training and placement by establishing a new Workforce1 Career Center in Upper Manhattan Supporting small businesses in Inwood through SBS Neighborhood 360 grant program Supporting cultural stakeholders through DCLA s Building Community Capacity Program Credit: E Abrau Visuals Edit Footer Here 6
Improving Neighborhood Infrastructure The City will invest in public assets and amenities to benefit existing residents and sustain growth KEY INVESTMENTS/INITIATIVES TO DATE Transforming Highbridge Park through $30M in capital funding as part of Anchor Parks initiative Implementing Vision Zero initiatives, including safer streets and Dyckman Street bikeway Addressing water and sewer infrastructure needs by developing a neighborhood-wide drainage plan Edit Footer Here 7
Preserving and Creating Affordable Housing The City is taking action to ensure Inwood remains affordable for working families KEY INVESTMENTS/INITIATIVES TO DATE Providing tenants with easy access to free legal assistance by opening a new Legal Services NYC office in Inwood Door-to-door outreach to inform tenants of their rights and connect them to legal assistance Transforming the Inwood branch library into a new, state-of-the art library with 100% affordable housing Targeting bad landlords and improving housing quality by convening a problembuildings working group and stepping up code enforcement efforts Edit Footer Here 8
Inwood Special District: East of 10 th Avenue Extend Inwood to the Harlem River and create a public waterfront Inwood Special District SPECIAL DISTRICT STRATEGY Require permanent affordable housing in all new residential development Ensure private developments are required to provide public waterfront open space Transform the public realm and strengthen pedestrian connections to the Harlem River Encourage commercial and institutional growth in the Tip of Manhattan and along 10 th Avenue Consolidate existing Con Edison infrastructure to facilitate housing and waterfront access 9
Existing Neighborhood Character: Zoning Existing zoning is over 50 years old and has never been updated KEY TAKEAWAYS Zoning has not been updated since 1961 Most areas east of 10 th Avenue do not allow housing under current zoning C8 districts in the heart of the neighborhood, encourage primarily auto-related uses, while restricting housing R7-2 zoning districts mapped across most areas west of 10 th Avenue have no height limits, street wall requirements, or affordability requirements 10
Existing Neighborhood Character: Land Use Neighborhood character differs drastically east and west of 10 th Avenue KEY TAKEAWAYS East of 10 th Avenue Consists largely of infrastructure uses, as well as vacant land and parking lots along the waterfront Also some warehouse/distribution businesses and restaurants/nightclubs West of 10 th Avenue Vibrant mixed-use neighborhood Surrounded by parks and open space Strong commercial corridors along Dyckman, Broadway, and 207 th Street 11
Existing Neighborhood Character: Housing Along main commercial corridors (Dyckman, Broadway, 207 th ) development can happen today without any affordable housing KEY TAKEAWAYS Dense neighborhood Replace with density map Older housing stock 89% of rental units are in pre- 1947 buildings Very little new housing In the past two decades less than 200 units have been developed Significant new development could happen today is along commercial corridors 12
Expanded Rezoning Area The City is expanding the rezoning to include the entire Inwood NYC study area Edit Footer Here 13
Expanded Rezoning Area: Upland Core Strong existing built character with primarily residential uses and limited retail and community facility KEY CHARACTERISTICS Mostly built-out with few opportunities for new development Existing R7-2 zoning allows between 3.44 4.0 residential FAR and up to 6.5 community facility FAR No existing height limits or street wall requirements under R7-2 Edit Background Footer Here Engagement Early City Investments Zoning Next Steps 14
Expanded Rezoning Area: Upland Core Edit Background Footer Here Engagement Early City Investments Zoning Next Steps 15
Expanded Rezoning Area: Upland Core Edit Background Footer Here Engagement Early City Investments Zoning Next Steps 16
Expanded Rezoning Area: Upland Core Edit Background Footer Here Engagement Early City Investments Zoning Next Steps 17
Expanded Rezoning Area: Upland Core Preserve areas where there is a strong existing built character PRINCIPLES FOR FEEDBACK Limit new development in areas with strong existing residential character. Ensure new development is consistent with the existing character of the neighborhood by instituting height limits and street wall requirements Ensure local businesses can continue to thrive by making existing retail uses conforming under zoning Edit Footer Here 18
Expanded Rezoning Area: Commercial Corridors Inwood has thriving commercial corridors along Dyckman, Broadway, & 207 th Street KEY CHARACTERISTICS Most development potential west of 10 th Avenue is along major commercial corridors Wide streets close to transit with four subway stations (A and 1 Trains) and Select Bus Service Significant new development can happen today with no height limits, street wall requirements, or affordability requirements Edit Footer Here 19
Expanded Rezoning Area: Initial Findings If redeveloped, no affordable housing is required Edit Footer Here 20
Expanded Rezoning Area: Initial Findings If redeveloped, no affordable housing is required Edit Background Footer Here Engagement Early City Investments Zoning Next Steps 21
Expanded Rezoning Area: Principles for Feedback Ensure new development provides affordable housing while respecting existing neighborhood fabric PRINCIPLES Require all new developments to provide permanently affordable housing through Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) Ensure new development is consistent with neighborhood character by instituting height limits and street wall requirements Promote vibrant streets and a healthy mix of uses by requiring active ground floors and allowing second-story retail Edit Background Footer Here Engagement Early City Investments Zoning Next Steps 22
What s Next? The City will continue working with the Inwood community to shape the neighborhood plan and comprehensive rezoning Release Inwood NYC Action Plan - Snapshot of current City initiatives and long-term strategies identified during 18-month community engagement process Continue to meet with Community Board 12 Public Scoping Hearing (anticipated Fall 2017) Edit Footer Here 23