Congressman To Host Inwood Rezoning Forum

INWOOD, NY — Congressman Adriano Espaillat has organized a public forum to discuss the city's plan to rezone a large portion of the Inwood neighborhood just days before the City Council is set to vote on the plan.

Espaillat — who has previously stated his opposition to the city's plan — will hold the forum forum on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. at Washington Heights Academy on Sherman Avenue between West 204th and 207th streets.

The congressman — who represents Washington Heights, Inwood and parts of Harlem and the South Bronx — has said he will not support a plan to rezone Inwood unless it guarantees the creation of 5,000 apartments affordable to the people currently living in the area. Espaillat also endorsed removing the "commercial U" — a special zoning area that would increase density along Inwood's three main commercial corridors — from the city's plan.

Inwood's City Council respresentative, Ydanis Rodriguez, has not publicly stated whether he will support or oppose the plan. The council generally defers to local representatives in land use votes. Rodriguez has released a list of priorities for the zoning including building and preserving affordable housing, protecting small businesses, turning the neighborhood into a city leader for the tech and STEM industries, investing in arts and culture and protecting the neighborhood's green spaces.

Borough President Gale Brewer — who voted against the city's plan in the uniform land use review procedure — will also attend the forum.

Photo courtesy NYC Economic Development Corportation