Mamdani Seeks $21 Billion From Trump For 12,000 Sunnyside Yard Homes
Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump to request $21 billion in federal grants to build 12,000 homes atop Sunnyside Yard and secured the release of a detained Columbia student.
Overview
Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump in an undisclosed Oval Office sit-down on Thursday to pitch building 12,000 housing units at Sunnyside Yard and requested $21 billion in federal grants, the mayor's office said.
Mamdani said he focused on housing because it is 'the foremost crisis in New York City' and presented a mock Daily News front page to make his case, his office and statements said.
Responses were mixed: Gov. Hochul spokesperson Jen Goodman called any initiative delivering 12,000+ homes 'good news,' while Council member Julie Won criticized the White House meeting and urged local land-use review, statements said.
The proposal would require at least $21 billion to build a deck and would include roughly 12,000 units with about 6,000 Mitchell-Lama-style affordable homes, and the White House meeting was not on the public schedule, press accounts said.
Mamdani said the project would need federal approvals and support from Amtrak and the MTA and that his administration has had 'a few conversations across elected officials, labor organizers' as talks continue.
Analysis
Analysis unavailable for this viewpoint.
FAQ
The Sunnyside Yard project proposes building a massive deck over a 180-acre rail yard in Queens to create 12,000 affordable housing units, including 6,000 Mitchell-Lama-style homes, 60 acres of public space, new schools, health centers, and a regional rail hub.
Mayor Mamdani is requesting over $21 billion in federal grants to construct the deck and develop the housing, citing New York City's severe housing affordability crisis as the foremost issue.
The unpublicized Oval Office meeting occurred on Thursday, where Mamdani pitched the project and received interest from Trump; both agreed to continue discussions.
Governor Hochul's office called it good news for delivering homes; Council member Julie Won criticized the meeting and called for local review; pro-housing advocates like Open New York expressed excitement.
The project requires federal approvals, support from Amtrak and MTA, community input, local land-use review, and faces complexities similar to Hudson Yards due to the active rail yard.
