Zoning for Jobs is a
grassroots advocacy campaign to:
1) Raise public and government awareness of the
role the blue-collar sectors play in providing decent jobs and sustaining local
economies; and
2) Promote new zoning and finance tools that would
provide space for blue-collar industries, prevent displacement and
gentrification, encourage reinvestment and the creation of new jobs, and
promote healthy, environmentally-friendly, blue-collar communities.
Better Zoning Tools Are Needed to Shape a
The City is currently
proposing numerous zoning changes in both solid industrial areas and in
neighborhoods which have historically been a mix of industrial and residential
uses where residents often walked to work at nearby blue-collar jobs. Other areas where re-zonings are not
currently proposed are also experiencing real estate speculation and an
increase in BSA variance applications.
In aggregate, these changes present a dramatic shift in the Citys allocation
of land away from low and moderate income workers and communities. New zoning and finance tools are needed to
allow for development that does not put these jobs and communities at risk.
Campaign Activities
·
Expanding support amongst stakeholders for the policy agenda and
developing grassroots leadership for the campaign;
·
Providing technical assistance to neighborhood groups to analyze the
impact of zoning changes on their local economies;
·
Advocating before key committees and elected officials including
testifying, organizing tours and holding briefing sessions; and
·
Developing programs and policies with the City Council and City
Agencies that promote and support blue collar jobs.
Campaign Tools (For more information, click on the tool name.)
·
Industrial Employment Districts: These districts would be located in solid manufacturing
areas and would limit the conversion of manufacturing space to other uses.
·
Balanced Mixed
Use Zones: These districts would be located in areas with a
combination of uses and would preserve a balance between industrial and residential
space.
·
Conversion Fees: These fees seek to recapture a portion of the value created by the
conversion of industrial space to another use. The revenues from the fees
would be used for programs to save displaced jobs.
·
Non-Profit
Development Corporations: These
entities would develop affordable and stable industrial space for a variety
of industrial companies
·
Board of Standards &
Appeals Reform: Modifications
to the BSA process would allow for an appeals process to the City Council
·
Enforcement of the Zoning
Code: Active enforcement
would deter illegal conversions of industrial space.
For more information or
to sign on to the campaign, contact Jen Roth at 212-404-6990 x12 or [email protected].
Additional resources:
Introductory
Zoning For Jobs brochure
