The City Council approved two linked applications to amend the Zoning and City Map in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to facilitate a large-scale mixed-use development. The zoning map change reclassifies a portion of land from R3-2 to C8-4, and maps C8-4 zoning onto adjacent demapped parkland. The companion City Map amendment eliminates a portion of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and a stretch of Grand Central Parkway, establishes new parkland, a westbound ramp, and adjusts block dimensions. The development will span 3.7 million gross square feet and include a gaming facility, hotel, convention center, parking, a music hall, and other amenities. In addition, approximately 25 acres of designed public park and green space will be created. These changes are within Joint Interest Area 81 and Community Boards 8 and 9.
This rezoning facilitates a major redevelopment project that transforms underutilized park-adjacent land into a commercial and entertainment hub. It also provides significant new public park space and modern infrastructure upgrades, potentially enhancing the regional economy and tourism.