Plan aims to end McMansion construction. On June 30, 2009, the City Council downzoned 32 blocks of the Cord Meyer-Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens from an R1-2 to an R1-2A district. Aimed at eliminating the construction of oversized single-family homes, often referred to as “McMansions,” the new district sets stricter bulk limits including a 35-foot maximum building height and a 500-foot maximum floor area exemption for parking. The original zoning set no height limit and allowed the exemption of the entire ground floor in exchange for one interior parking space. 6 CityLand 57 (May 15, 2009). (read more…)