Scott Stringer proposes zoning change to prevent Trump from selling federal buildings in mayoral campaign.

Mayoral candidate Scott Stringer has announced a significant proposal aimed at preserving New York City’s civic infrastructure in response to recent actions by the Trump administration regarding federal property sales. The initiative, known as the Safeguarding Historic Infrastructure through Effective Land-use Defenses (SHIELD), seeks to establish a new zoning designation that would restrict the auctioning of federal buildings to luxury developers.

Stringer’s SHIELD plan introduces a “federal use” zoning category that mandates public review for any potential transactions involving federal properties. This initiative would empower the City Council to block such sales, thereby ensuring that the process remains accountable to New Yorkers. Stringer emphasized the importance of safeguarding civic infrastructure, stating his commitment to opposing any efforts by Trump to capitalize on federal assets for personal gain.

Currently, only four federal buildings in New York are at risk of being sold under this policy, the most notable of which is the 41-story Javits Federal Office Building located in lower Manhattan. This building houses critical facilities, including local offices for Immigration Court as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Implementing Stringer’s proposal would involve a text amendment to the city’s zoning regulations, a process that could take several months to finalize. However, a spokesperson for the Stringer campaign expressed optimism about the proposal’s acceptance, noting its relatively uncontroversial nature. The spokesperson suggested that potential developers might be deterred by the lengthy approval process associated with these sales.

The context for this proposal was heightened recently when the Trump administration released and subsequently retracted a list of hundreds of federal properties under consideration for sale. Although the administration has indicated it continues to explore options for selling off government buildings, Stringer’s plan would create additional hurdles should any such actions be pursued in New York City.

Under the proposed zoning framework, these buildings would be classified with a “special use” designation, requiring any developer interested in purchasing a property to obtain a special permit from the City Planning Commission. This process would trigger the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), which entails thorough vetting by various city agencies before final approval by the City Council.

As the Democratic primary approaches, candidates have been actively outlining their strategies for addressing perceived threats from the Trump administration, with many focusing on potential funding cuts and other challenges. Stringer’s proposal stands out as a proactive measure aimed at directly countering the possibility of federal property sales that could alter the landscape of New York City.