On September 16, 2024, Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick in collaboration with other critical stakeholders announced the launch of the NYC Industrial Plan, The New York City Plan was sponsored by City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias as outlined in Local Law 172-2023.
New York’s industrial sector is comprised of more than 590,000 public and private sector jobs across sub-sectors of construction, transportation and logistics, wholesaling, information and media, manufacturing, waste management, repair, and energy/utilities. The goal of the New York City Industrial Plan is to collect data on the industrial and manufacturing industries and provide this information to policymakers in hopes of bolstering jobs in the industrial sector.
The New York City Industrial Plan will build on the following New York City projects: the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity, which updated the city’s commercial and manufacturing zoning for a modern economy; the Green Economy Action Plan, which provides a framework for how the city will create more “green jobs”; the EJNYC Report and Mapping Tool which provides New Yorker’s access to environmental justice issues facing the City; the Last-Mile Facility Zoning Text Amendment which would establish a City Planning Commission (CPC) Special Permit for new last-mile facilities; the Truck Route Network Redesign, Delivering New York, Delivering Green, and the Blue Highways initiative which all focus on the City’s extensive freight infrastructure.
There will be a public engagement period and there is a multilingual survey that targets the opinions of people and businesses in New York City’s industrial areas for New Yorkers to vocalize their concerns. In addition to the survey, the New York City Industrial Plan is launching with a website that includes research on the City’s industrial sector’s composition, geography, challenges, and role in the City’s economy.
A draft report for the New York City Industrial Plan will be developed by relevant agencies and is expected in mid-2025. The final plan will include research on land use patterns, industrial business growth, infrastructure challenges, and environmental concerns within New York City’s industrial zones. This plan will also include the creation of a new classification for predominantly industrial neighborhoods “Primary Industrial Areas.” The final NYC Industrial Plan is anticipated to be released at the end of 2025.
Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer said, “New York City is at an all-time high for private sector employment and the city continues to make the investments in people, places and sectors that will create more family-sustaining jobs, catalyze innovation and foster a competitive and resilient 21st -century economy. I encourage all New Yorkers to participate in the process that starts today, an inter-agency, data-driven and community-informed effort to develop a citywide Industrial Plan that informs the city’s policies and programs for a modern industrial sector in the years to come.”
New York City Director of the Department of City Planning Dan Garodnick said, “New York’s industrial areas face 21st century challenges and opportunities, but are saddled with 20th century planning. We are excited to work with our agency partners to bring a fresh and thoughtful approach to industrial planning that ensures businesses, workers, and neighbors can all succeed in a 21st century economy. I encourage all local stakeholders to get involved as we embark on this industrial planning process.”
By: Chelsea Ramjeawan (Chelsea is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2025.)