Parking has emerged as a central focus of negotiations on Mayor Eric Adams’ sweeping package of proposed development reforms ahead of a crucial City Council committee vote Thursday.
Manhattan Test
Already, the developers of several apartment buildings around the city have received special approval to build without parking and, for years, creating parking with housing has been optional in certain neighborhoods.
Residents with cars who live in the buildings without parking are making do, while those without cars say they’re disincentivized to get one.
Empty Spaces
Developers are also able to apply for a permit to waive parking requirements as part of the land use review process. More than 20 projects — spanning all boroughs except Staten Island — have requested that permit to forgo parking spots or build less.
One such development is Bronx Point, home to residents of limited-income apartments and the Hip Hop Museum, and located on the banks of the Harlem River.
Housing Cut in Half
About half of the projected units of housing potentially buildable under City of Yes could be at risk of not moving forward depending on where the parking requirements remain in place, according to Marcel Negret, director of land use at the Regional Plan Association. That’s because the role of parking minimums affects other aspects of the City of Yes proposal.
Conclusion
The City of Yes proposal aims to ease up rules to spur more residential development, but realizing those numbers largely depends on the elimination of requirements for developers to build specified numbers of parking spots. The outcome of the negotiations will determine the fate of the proposal and its potential impact on the city’s housing landscape.
FAQs
Q: What is the City of Yes proposal?
A: The City of Yes proposal is a sweeping package of proposed development reforms aimed at easing up rules to spur more residential development.
Q: What is the goal of the City of Yes proposal?
A: The goal of the City of Yes proposal is to create between 58,000 and 109,000 new units of housing over the next 15 years.
Q: What is the controversy surrounding parking requirements?
A: The controversy surrounding parking requirements is that some Council members are decrying the lack of parking that makes life more difficult for car-dependent New Yorkers, while developers say parking requirements add unnecessary costs to their projects.
Q: What is the current situation with parking in New York City?
A: Less than half of New York City households own a car, and the city has been exploring ways to reduce parking requirements to spur more housing development.
