City Planning Holds Public Hearing for Borough-Based Jails Project | City Land

City reduced projected number of beds to 4,600 but did not amend application at time of hearing. On July 10, 2019, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for the City’s application for four borough-based jails as a part of the City’s plan to shut down Rikers Island. The application proposes four new jails at 124-125 White Street in Manhattan, 745 East 141st Street in the Bronx, 126-02 82nd Avenue in Queens, and at 275 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The new jails will allow the City to shut down operations on Rikers Island and work toward the City’s goal of reducing the City’s jail population. For CityLand’s prior coverage of the proposed project, click here.

On May 6, 2019, the number of beds needed was reduced from 5,748 to 4,600, to serve a population of 4,000 people instead of 5,000. The reduction resulted from new state legislation that was passed after the application had been certified. This reduction also occurred after the project received backlash over the heights of the proposed jails. As the City adjusted its projection for an achievable reduction in the jail population, a reduced number of beds would also allow for reduced building heights. The project completion time was also moved up from Spring 2027 to June 2026. At the time of the public hearing, the City had not amended the application to reflect reduced beds or building heights. Continue reading.