Last month the Mayor formally released his massive SoHo/NoHo Upzoning plan, beginning the approximately seven-month public review and approval process. This is where the final outcome of this plan to introduce enormously out of scale development and huge big box chain stores to the area will be determined. The outcome will be largely determined by Councilmembers Margaret Chin, Carlina Rivera, and Corey Johnson, as well as Borough President Gale Brewer.

The first official stop in that process is Community Board 2, which will be holding its public hearings upon which it makes its recommendation on June 23 (and June 24 if needed). MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD — CLICK HERE and HERE to sign up for the hearings.

Important facts about the plan:

• Will allow NYU unlimited access to expand in the area 
• Will allow new development up to 2.5X the size of what’s currently allowed 
• Will allow big box chain stores of unlimited size
• Will encourage the demolition of existing rent-regulated affordable housing, displacing longtime and lower income residents
• Will guarantee no new affordable housing, and due to multiple loopholes and exemptions, will likely create little or none
• Will benefit developer/donors to the Mayor tremendously 
• Will make neighborhood richer, more expensive, and less diverse 
• Is designed to serve as a model for subsequent rezonings in similar areas 

Learn more here and here.