“This site presents a tremendous opportunity to create a transformative project that will be key in Jamaica's resurgence,” says Hope Knight, president and CEO of GJDC. “This development has the potential of bringing a much-needed general merchandise store and family-style restaurant back to the area to support the growing population and volume of daily shoppers that is at an all-time high.”

While much of the current development in Downtown Jamaica has been around the AirTrain Station. GJDC officials note that revitalization activity is spreading to the eastern part of the district with two major projects about to commence on 168th Street. One block south from the GJDC site, the New York City Economic Development Corp. is expected to designate a developer this fall to transform an underutilized city-owned lot into a 428,000-square-foot mixed-use project.

The city and Queens Borough president Melinda Katz's office are implementing the “Jamaica Now” plan to further revitalization in Downtown Jamaica. That initiative got a boost in August when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Downtown Jamaica, Queens was selected the winner of a $10-million Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Jamaica was selected as part of a competitive process by the NYC Regional Economic Development Council and will receive funding to revitalize the local neighborhood and generate new opportunities for long-term growth and prosperity.

The $10-million award will include up to $300,000 in planning funds for private sector experts to work with a local planning committee to draft a Strategic Investment Plan that will identify specific economic development, transportation, and housing projects. The grant is part of a $100 million effort to improve the urban vitality of city centers across the state.

Join ALM Real Estate Media on October 5th at RealShare NEW YORK, a who's who of expert analysis and insights on the New York market. Click here for more details.

NEW YORK CITY—The Greater Jamaica Development Corp. issued a Request for Proposals for the redevelopment of an existing parking lot into a mixed-use development that could total nearly 500,000 square feet.

The GJDC-owned site is an open-air parking lot at 168th Street and 90th Avenue (90-02 168th St.) and is a half a block from Jamaica Avenue. The parcel has a footprint of 99,500 square feet that permits a development project up to 497,500 square feet.

There is a minimum component of retail for the project at 75,000 square feet. The retail would help address the strong demand for more shopping options in Jamaica. A recent survey undertaken by GJDC found that local residents shopped less frequently in the area than in other places and spent four times more money outside the district.

GJDC will hold an information session for interested RFP respondents in mid-October and proposals are due by Dec. 2, 2016. A developer will be selected by the end of this year.

“This site presents a tremendous opportunity to create a transformative project that will be key in Jamaica's resurgence,” says Hope Knight, president and CEO of GJDC. “This development has the potential of bringing a much-needed general merchandise store and family-style restaurant back to the area to support the growing population and volume of daily shoppers that is at an all-time high.”

While much of the current development in Downtown Jamaica has been around the AirTrain Station. GJDC officials note that revitalization activity is spreading to the eastern part of the district with two major projects about to commence on 168th Street. One block south from the GJDC site, the New York City Economic Development Corp. is expected to designate a developer this fall to transform an underutilized city-owned lot into a 428,000-square-foot mixed-use project.

The city and Queens Borough president Melinda Katz's office are implementing the “Jamaica Now” plan to further revitalization in Downtown Jamaica. That initiative got a boost in August when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Downtown Jamaica, Queens was selected the winner of a $10-million Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Jamaica was selected as part of a competitive process by the NYC Regional Economic Development Council and will receive funding to revitalize the local neighborhood and generate new opportunities for long-term growth and prosperity.

The $10-million award will include up to $300,000 in planning funds for private sector experts to work with a local planning committee to draft a Strategic Investment Plan that will identify specific economic development, transportation, and housing projects. The grant is part of a $100 million effort to improve the urban vitality of city centers across the state.

Join ALM Real Estate Media on October 5th at RealShare NEW YORK, a who's who of expert analysis and insights on the New York market. Click here for more details.