City of Yes for Housing Opportunity: A Sweeping and Modest Plan to Address New York City’s Housing Crisis
Mayor Eric Adams’ proposal to change land use rules across the five boroughs to promote housing construction is both sweeping and modest, officials leading the effort told City Council members Monday in the first of two public hearings. Department of City Planning Commissioner Dan Garodnick and Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión fielded questions from City Council members, who expressed skepticism both about new development’s potential to strain neighborhoods and how far the zoning changes would go to address a persistent shortage of affordable housing.
The Proposal: A "Big Bite" at the Housing Crisis
Garodnick described the proposal, City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, as the "most pro-housing policy in the history of New York City zoning," which would "allow us to take a big bite of our housing crisis citywide."
Sweeping Changes
The zoning proposal is a package of land use changes that the Adams administration expects to result in 58,000 to 109,000 new units of housing by 2039. The proposal would allow two to four stories of apartments atop businesses on commercial strips and near transit-rich areas; make parking spots optional for new residential developments; let owners of one- and two-family houses turn attics, garages, and possibly basements into apartments; and let developers build more housing as long as the additional units are affordable.
Modest Impact
Garodnick emphasized that the impact would be minimal, with new housing development incremental enough to avoid negative impacts on infrastructure, like already-taxed sewer systems that can’t handle water during heavy rains.
Critics Raise Concerns
Council members, however, raised concerns about the potential strain on neighborhoods and the lack of rent control measures to ensure affordability. Councilmember Robert Holden (D-Queens) expressed opposition to the proposal, citing concerns about parking requirements and the potential for over-development in his district. "You cannot opt out, you cannot just say no," Garodnick replied, "Your district has to be part of the solution."
Conclusion
The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal aims to address New York City’s persistent housing shortage, which has seen new construction not keep up with population growth and high demand for housing with limited supply. While critics may raise concerns about the potential impact on neighborhoods, the proposal offers a comprehensive approach to addressing the city’s housing crisis. As Council Speaker Adrienne Adams noted, "New Yorkers also need deeper affordability, expanded pathways to affordable homeownership, strengthened tenant protections, the removal of barriers to housing vouchers, investments in their neighborhoods, and more."
FAQs
Q: What is the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal?
A: The proposal is a package of land use changes aimed at increasing housing production in New York City.
Q: What changes would be made to zoning rules?
A: The proposal would allow for two to four stories of apartments atop businesses on commercial strips and near transit-rich areas, make parking spots optional for new residential developments, and let owners of one- and two-family homes turn attics, garages, and possibly basements into apartments.
Q: How much new housing would be built under the proposal?
A: The proposal is expected to result in 58,000 to 109,000 new units of housing by 2039.
Q: Will the proposal strain neighborhoods?
A: Officials leading the effort insist that the impact would be minimal, with new housing development incremental enough to avoid negative impacts on infrastructure, like already-taxed sewer systems that can’t handle water during heavy rains.
