QUEENS — The city is coming up with an "action plan" for Jamaica in an attempt to revitalize the neighborhood, and is looking for community input ahead of the plan's announcement next month, city officials said.
Residents and business owners will get a chance to submit their ideas about how to improve their neighborhood during a city-organized workshop at York College on Nov. 22.
Officials said that participants, including property owners and community leaders, will discuss issues such as housing, commercial revitalization, workforce development, training and education for young people, transportation and use of public space.
Residents will be asked to mark locations where they believe the improvements are most needed on the maps of the area.
The recommendations from the workshop, organized by the Mayor’s office in partnership with Queens Borough President, Melinda Katz, will be presented to city and state agencies and taken into consideration in drafting the "action plan" for Jamaica.
The workshop, which is open to the public, comes on the heels of a meeting held at York College in June, during which Alicia Glen, New York City's deputy mayor for housing and economic development, said that the current administration is very committed to developing the area.
“Jamaica has tremendous strengths,” Glen said in June. “Our challenge is now to work with you to take it to the next level and … really enhance the strengths of Jamaica and to create an economic strategy that will help unlock the potential that’s already here.”
Carlisle Towery, president of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, applauded the move.
“We are more than encouraged that Mayor de Blasio and Deputy Mayor Glen recognize the potential that Jamaica has to build on its progress,” he said.
A number of new developments have already been planned for Jamaica, including new hotels and housing.
The workshop will be held on Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. at York College (94-20 Guy Brewer Blvd., Faculty Dining Room).
