By Y.M. Lowy

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, together with the Department of City Planning (DCP), has announced a new neighborhood planning effort that includes parts of Brooklyn just south of Prospect Park, near the Boro Park border along Coney Island Avenue and McDonald Avenue.

The focus is to look at how these neighborhoods can grow in the coming years, especially in areas where old zoning rules have limited new housing. Many of the streets in the area are currently made up of smaller buildings and shops, with very little new housing being built.

As part of the plan, the Department of City Planning will lead community engagement over the coming months. Residents and business owners will be invited to share feedback before any zoning changes or development ideas are finalized.

The proposal is expected to explore ways to add more housing, including affordable housing, and allow for a better mix of residential and commercial space in the same areas.

The plan is still in the early stages and no final decisions have been made. The process will continue through public meetings and outreach before any formal changes are considered.