Three years of steering meetings, community board and civic association forums and outreach to cultural centers and small businesses has led to the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, an initiative to transform 230 blocks of Downtown Jamaica via upzoning, being approved by members of the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and Committee on Land Use, last Thursday.

If the proposal is passed by the full Council on Oct. 29, not only will it allow for the creation of 11,800 new housing units, but the city will provide $413 million in new money. Some of that would go toward supporting tenants and homeowners; water and sewer upgrades; transportation and public realm improvements; renovated parks and new open spaces; and increases for public health and safety programs.

There would also be

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