The New York City Council unanimously passed a comprehensive affordable housing bill on Tuesday, signaling a significant push to increase affordable housing options across Queens. The legislation, backed by both city officials and community advocates, focuses on expanding affordable units in rapidly growing neighborhoods such as Astoria, Jackson Heights, and Flushing.

Under the new law, developers will be required to set aside a higher percentage of units as affordable in new residential projects, particularly in areas experiencing increased market-rate development. The bill also includes provisions for rent stabilization expansions and incentives for affordable housing construction on public land, with a goal to create thousands of new affordable homes over the next decade.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards celebrated the bill’s passage, highlighting the borough’s acute affordable housing challenges amid rising rents and an influx of new residents. “This is a crucial step forward in ensuring that Queens remains a diverse and inclusive borough where people from all income levels can afford to live,” Richards said in a statement.

The legislation aims to address long-standing concerns in neighborhoods like Long Island City, where rapid gentrification has displaced many working-class families. Local community boards are expected to play a more active role in reviewing housing proposals under the new framework, giving residents more influence over development plans.

With Queens being one of the fastest-growing boroughs in New York City, housing advocates say this bill could set a precedent for future affordable housing initiatives citywide. Implementation and monitoring will be key as the city moves to meet its goal of producing 300,000 affordable units by 2030.

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