Today, NYC City Council approved the rezoning which pushes forward the redevelopment of the old Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in Hunts Point.
Known as The Peninsula, the $300 million development will bring 740 units of on the 5 acre property and Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr, who’s the land use chair, was able to negotiate that the units which aren’t permanently affordable to remain below market-rate for 60 years.
The development will have 52,000 square feet of open space, a health and wellness run by Urban Health Plan, and 50,000 square feet of light industrial space.
This is a perfect example of changing the land use of a lot for the greater good where once there was a jail there will now be a positive development for the area.
We must ask ourselves then, why is the city trying to build a jail in our overburdened communities then?