City Unveils 'Action Plan' For Inwood Rezoning, Future Developments

INWOOD, NY — City officials announced the launch of the Inwood NYC 2017 Action Plan Thursday to outline the future of rezoning and development in the neighborhood.

But Inwood residents in-the-know shouldn't expect too much new information.

Instead of presenting a host of brand-new plans for the neighborhood, the action plan attempts to frame existing Inwood projects and proposals — including the Inwood Library redevelopment and a proposal to rezone the neighborhood — in the context of a complete plan, staffers from the city Economic Development Corporation told reporters Thursday.

"This Action Plan outlines comprehensive strategies to address Inwood’s most pressing challenges, such as rising rents, antiquated zoning, lack of access to the waterfront and outdated infrastructure," EDC President and CEO James Patchett said in a statement.

Some highlights from the plan include:

• The Inwood Library redevelopment;
• Rezoning Inwood east and west of 10th Avenue;
• A $30 million renovation of Highbridge Park;
• Building a newWorkforce1 Center and legal services office in the neighborhood;
• $1.1 million in grants to Inwood nonprofits through the Neighborhood 360° program;

In total, the city will pledge $42 million in public investments through the action plan, EDC staffers told reporters Thursday. The goals of the plan are to develop and preserve affordable housing, enhance tenant protection, developed the Harlem River waterfront, preserve Inwood's character, invest in neighborhood's infrastructure and support local businesses and jobs, according to a city press release.

"This community-driven plan means creating and preserving affordable housing, improving parks and access to the Harlem River, a new library, roads, schools, job development and vital business districts," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.

When asked about new information regarding the city's plan to rezone Inwood, EDC staffers told reporters that final rezoning recommendations will be revealed at a July 13 Community Board 12 meeting. Despite community support for extending the rezoning area south of Dyckman Street, the EDC has not changed the study area because it would have forced the city to postpone the project.

The EDC previously put the rezoning proposal on hold to extend the study area west of 10th Avenue after residents demanded contextual rezoning for the area. The city's rezoning plans for the area west of 10th avenue will attempt to protect the area's character while advancing the goals of the action plan, officials said. The city has not changed its rezoning plans east of 10th Avenue, officials told reporters Thursday.

The city expects the scoping process for rezoning to begin in early fall and the ULURP process to begin by the end of the year, EDC staffers told reporters Thursday.

Inwood's local elected officials will back the action plan. City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, State Assemblywoman Carmen De La Rosa and Borough President Gale Brewer all issued statements Thursday in support of the plan.

"Since elected, I have envisioned a brighter future for Northern Manhattan, a community that worked hard to get through tough times in the 80's and 90's. This future entailed energizing underutilized portions of Inwood with new and needed affordable housing for working class and middle class families, a center of economic activity, spurred by the technology and healthcare industries, and improved outcomes for our students, with education that leverages these industries to create a pipeline to quality jobs," Rodriguez said in a statement.

Inwood residents can find informational materials in English and Spanish for the action plan at the Inwood Library, located on Broadway between Dyckman and Academy Streets, 5030 Broadway and the district offices of City Councilman Rodriguez and Assemblywoman De La Rosa.

Materials can also be found online in English and Spanish.

Photo by Teri Tynes via Flickr/Creative Commons