Inwood NYC Action Plan 2019 Update

Delivering on Commitments

Inwood NYC is a comprehensive plan to ensure that Inwood remains an affordable, attractive neighborhood for working and immigrant families.

Released in 2017, the Inwood NYC Action Plan was the result of over three years of extensive engagement with the Inwood community.

This Action Plan Update outlines the progress that the City and community partners have made over the last year, including committing over $200M in additional funding to support affordable and mixed-income housing, support tenant rights, enhance community space, and create new opportunities for residents.

Protecting Tenants

The City is working to preserve and boost quality of life for Inwood residents. In fall 2018, the City launched the Certification of No Harassment (CONH) pilot program across 144 buildings in Inwood and Washington Heights, to ensure that tenants have not been subject to harassment before landlords obtain construction permits for major building alterations.

In spring 2019, the City also launched the Partners in Preservation Program, which works with local groups to prevent tenant harassment. The City granted $490,000 to Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation to work with Community League of the Heights, Inwood Community Services, Godard Riverside Community Center, and others to develop anti-displacement strategies for Northern Manhattan residents.

Enhancing Community Space

The City is working to upgrade open space and infrastructure to meet the needs of all Northern Manhattan residents through investments in parks and playgrounds. Major milestones include:

• Completing the Dyckman Green Gym in fall 2018
• Breaking ground on a $30 million Anchor Parks renovation of Highbridge Park
• Selecting a designer for the new waterfront parks along Academy Street and the North Cove
• A new library combined with affordable housing, Universal Pre-K, a STEM center, and other community resources
• Beginning construction to replace the sewers and water system in Inwood
• Installing 52 new trash cans along the major commercial corridor, in addition to providing supplemental sanitation services 7 days per week along Inwood’s busiest commercial streets.

Celebrating Culture

Inwood is a crucial part of the immigrant story in New York City and the United States. That’s why the City is supporting the development of an immigrant research and performing arts center. The facility will include flexible performing arts space as well as space for members of the public and academics to research and discuss the immigrant experience.

Read the Press Release: NYCEDC and DCLA Seeking Operator to Develop Immigrant Research and Performing Arts Center in Northern Manhattan

Driving Job Growth

In 2018, the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) launched four bridge programs at the Washington Heights Workforce1 center, to help Northern Manhattan residents develop the skills necessary to be competitive in the workforce.

1. Bilingual Medical Assistant: Teaching English language learners the clinical and administrative skills necessary to work as medical assistants
2. Bridge-to-Tech: Providing the basic skills needed to gain entry to occupational web-development training programs.
3. Pre-NCLEX: Preparing individuals who worked as nurses in their home countries to pass the New York State Registered Nurse licensing exam.
4. Bilingual Commercial Driver: Providing training to advanced English language learners interested in a commercial driving career

Supporting Inclusive Growth

Powering Education

The City is also making a major commitment to Northern Manhattan’s schools. To date, 11 DOE schools have been enrolled in Computer Science for All and 39 have been enrolled in Algebra for All.

Other projects include:

• A new STEM Education Center at the Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics
• Upgrades to the pools, windows, and science equipment at George Washington Educational Campus
• NYCx Co-labs kick off and workshop: over 35 residents of Inwood and Washington Heights participated in six workshops to address community challenges; these responses are being used to partner with agencies such as HPD and the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants on piloting on innovative solutions to these challenges

Zoning for the Future, Preserving Inwood’s History

In August 2018, the City approved the Inwood rezoning and related land-use actions to provide new opportunities for housing, commercial, and community space.

West of 10th Avenue, zoning provides height limits for new buildings, ensuring that new development preserves the existing character of the neighborhood.

In addition, in December 2018, the Landmark Preservation Committee designated Park Terrace West-West 217th street a historic district. This district features landscaped topography and picturesque early 20th century houses, which played a unique role in the historical development of Inwood.

Making Your Voice Heard

We need to hear from you. And there’s much more to come. The City will continue to engage with the community as we build on this progress and advance our commitment to Inwood.