- When: 2025/03/12
- Address: Northern Boulevard and Grand Central Parkway, Flushing, Queens, NY
- City: New York
- State: NY
- Category: Land Use Planning
- Subcategory: Parks & Recreation
- Asset Class: Commercial
- Property Type: Retail
- Size: 3.7 million gross square feet; approximately 25 acres of public parkland
On March 12, 2025, the New York City Council approved an amendment to the City Map (ULURP C 250047 MMQ) to facilitate a massive mixed-use commercial redevelopment at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The plan includes a 3.7 million gross square-foot project encompassing a gaming facility, hotel, music hall, convention center, retail uses, structured parking, and 25 acres of newly established parkland. The decision required the elimination and remapping of portions of the existing park, as well as street and ramp closures and reconfigurations involving the Grand Central Parkway. The project also includes an environmental mitigation plan as described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), addressing transportation and hazardous material concerns. The zoning map was amended to a C8-4 district to enable these developments.
Why it Matters
This approval enables one of the largest commercial redevelopments in Queens in recent years, reactivating underutilized parkland into a revenue-generating entertainment hub. The integrated parkland and infrastructure improvements also contribute to long-term public benefit in the area.
Source
Allowed Uses: Gaming facility, hotel, music venue, convention center, retail, parking structures, and approximately 25 acres of newly mapped public park space.
Density: Regulated under C8-4 zoning, which permits high floor area ratio (FAR) for commercial uses with specific limitations per NYC Zoning Resolution Section 33-12.
Minimum Lot Size: As per NYC Zoning Resolution, no explicit minimum lot size in C8-4, but subject to building bulk and parking regulations.
Maximum Building Height: Per NYC Zoning Code C8-4 District: height and setback regulations vary, but typically subject to sky exposure plane and street wall requirements; no absolute height limit if set back properly.
Lot Coverage: C8-4 districts allow lot coverage of up to 100% depending on building type and location on corner/interior lots, per Article III, Chapter 5 of the NYC Zoning Resolution.
Previous Zoning: Mapped portion of Flushing Meadows Corona Park; not previously zoned for C8-4 commercial use.