Community Board 6 in Manhattan has been urging the Adams administration to assist in developing a housing plan for the East Side. The request comes as part of the approval process for two major life science projects in the district, with the administration pledging to support a new housing strategy.
The redevelopment of Hunter College Brookdale campus, known as Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC), and Innovation East, which is set to replace a former public health lab, were approved by the City Council in February. These projects are expected to bring about 1.5 million square feet of life science space to Kips Bay.
Despite concerns over weakened demand for life science facilities and high vacancy rates—Newmark reported that vacancies reached 39 percent citywide in the second quarter of 2025—these city-owned sites will not include any residential units. Some questioned why these opportunities were not used for housing development, especially after Mayor Eric Adams issued an executive order requiring agencies to evaluate city land for such potential.
In response to questions on this approach, a representative from the Economic Development Corporation stated during a September hearing that “having jobs that New Yorkers of all backgrounds can access, that can pay for housing, is also an important part of delivering affordable housing and having an affordable city.” The administration concluded that affordable housing was not viable at SPARC following community review.
Other stakeholders, including Alexandria Real Estate Equities—which is working on its own life science project nearby—encouraged consideration of alternative uses for SPARC, such as residential development.
When it became clear that housing would not be included in these projects, City Council members Carlina Rivera and Keith Powers secured a commitment from the Department of City Planning to meet with Community Board 6 regarding a local housing plan. However, after meeting with City Planning in May, board members expressed frustration over the lack of specific commitments toward a district-focused initiative. The agency’s current priority is a broader “Manhattan Plan,” which aims to create 100,000 new homes across Manhattan over ten years.
Sandra McKee, chair of Community Board 6, commented: “Because it is Manhattan-wide, it doesn’t really acknowledge the specifics of our district.”
At a June committee meeting, Gigi Li from EDC said they are aware of concerns and are working on addressing them: “We’re aware, we’re working on it and we’ll be back with you guys soon.”
Since then, Community Board 6 entered its summer break period while Council member Rivera resigned her seat to lead the New York State Association for Affordable Housing due to term limits.
The Adams administration remains focused on its borough-wide strategy. The upcoming Manhattan Plan incorporates elements such as Midtown South rezoning and redevelopment efforts at locations like 100 Gold Street. A spokesperson from City Planning noted appreciation for local input: “For now, we’ve encouraged the board, and all New Yorkers, to participate in the Manhattan Plan, which looks to create 100,000 new homes throughout the borough,” adding that further discussions specific to CB6 would follow after its release.
Mayor Adams continues positioning his administration as highly supportive of new housing development; two additional neighborhood rezonings are planned by year-end—including one in Long Island City potentially yielding up to 14,700 apartments and another in Jamaica expected to generate around 12,000 homes.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged suggesting attempts by national political actors—including those associated with former President Trump—to influence whether Mayor Adams seeks re-election. This could affect priorities within his administration’s final months and determine how much progress initiatives like Community Board 6’s proposed housing plan achieve.
