The billion-dollar push to revitalize New York City neighborhoods

Published January 17, 2025

In a recent press conference, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced two Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), one with the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC). Over the agreement term, the PLAs will cover over $1 billion in construction projects, including generational infrastructure improvements in Willets Point.

Thanks to these PLAs, New York City can complete capital projects more efficiently and allow more underserved New Yorkers to better access apprenticeship and union career opportunities through community hiring. This will also strengthen the city’s commitment to supporting minority- and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs). Construction projects include repairing the city’s roads, bridges, and sewers and revitalizing green infrastructure.

Mayor Eric Adams also states that the New York City Economic Development Coordination (NCEDC) has signed off on a letter of intent to negotiate additional PLAs in good faith for the Kingsbridge Armory developments, the Hunts Point Produce Market, and the Science Park and Research Campus Kips Bay projects, totaling $1.88 billion in project work.

“We’re not stopping at just $1 billion. These agreements give us a framework for future agreements covering another $50 billion in projects,” Adams said. “That means tens of thousands of good-paying jobs for our union brothers and sisters and hundreds of projects delivered on time and on budget for New Yorkers. My thanks to Gary LaBarbera, BCTC, and the hard-working New Yorkers who put their blood, sweat, and tears into building a better city for all.”

These PLAs will also create the framework for future negotiations with the BCTC regarding projects that could cover as much as $50 billion in capital construction. They will apply to new construction, design-build projects, and renovations of city-owned structures. As of now, the BCTC represents over 100,000 tradespeople across New York City and affiliates in 15 international unions.

*When Complete, the 16-Mile Queens Waterfront Greenway Will Connect Gantry Plaza State Park to Fort Totten Park Along the East River and Long Island Sound. **Photo source:** NYC DOT.*

The announcement from Adams will allow New York City to use more efficient and effective project delivery models, reducing project timelines by years and saving taxpayers millions. More specifically, this PLA allows the city to utilize “design-build,” which enables a single entity to assume responsibility for construction and project design. Historically, the city has completed projects with separate construction and design contracts.

The city currently has plans to deliver:

$40 million deep sewer manhole project in Brooklyn
$150 million greenway along Lower Manhattan
$100 million waterfront dock reconstruction project in Staten Island and Queens
$240 million bridge and roadway improvement project in South Brooklyn

PLAs allow the city to solidify worker benefits, fair wages, and safety protections and provide room for workforce development while stabilizing construction costs within reasonable completion times.

Like this and want more? Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop about revitalizations and AEC industry news.

Like this article? Share it here.