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As the conversation around housing reform intensifies in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams’ “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan moves closer to the final moment. The public will get an additional opportunity to provide feedback on Mayor Eric Adams’ plan as it progresses toward a critical final vote in the City Council this coming fall. During this period, legislators are eager to see further improvements to the proposal. On Tuesday, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced the scheduling of two public consultations set for October 21 and 22. These meetings are intended for council members to dive into and solicit public opinions on the Adams administration’s zoning reform initiatives, which is designed to simplify building procedures throughout the city. Concurrently, the Council declared its commitment to developing a comprehensive and thorough housing action plan as part of the closing stages of negotiation.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has emphasized the need for comprehensive strategies to address New York City’s housing crisis. While she acknowledged that zoning reform is an essential step, she stressed that it is only one component of the larger effort required to meet the city’s housing demands. “I signed the most powerful pro-housing legislation in three generations earlier this year, but the work is far from over.” she noted, “But the work is far from over… it’s critical for New York City to move forward with zoning reforms that will create more of the homes New Yorkers so desperately need.” Additionally, she elaborated that approaching the housing crisis needs a wide-ranging approach, such as ensure tenant protections, eliminate barriers to housing vouchers, expand opportunities for affordable homeownership, and to enhance the capacities of housing agencies.
These remarks contain some of the criticisms that have surfaced during the public review phase of the City of Yes for Housing. Advocates of the plan argue that it modernizes outdated zoning regulations which they claim are stringent and obstruct new housing developments, thus exacerbating the housing crisis. However, detractors argue that the plan falls short in addressing the core issue of affordability. The proposal’s approval by the Council represents a significant barrier and occurs amidst a particularly awkward period for Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. The mayor was recently indicted on federal corruption and bribery charges, accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions and travel benefits from other nations.
This turmoil has influenced the rest of his administration, with several top officials having their phones confiscated or homes raided by law enforcement, and numerous resignations, including that of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. She was succeeded on Tuesday by Maria Torres-Springer, who will continue her duties as the deputy mayor for housing, economic development, and workforce, according to an announcement from the mayor’s office.
Negotiations for major land use plans often see council members bargaining for specific amendments and concessions in return for their approval. For example, when the Council approved a rezoning this past summer for two areas in the Bronx around new Metro-North stations, the final agreement included a $500 million investment in local parks and educational facilities. Similarly, during the 2021 rezoning of a portion of Gowanus, legislators secured funds for repairs at nearby NYCHA properties. “City of Yes will forever change the course of our city’s history by bringing that dream closer to reality for New Yorkers — and it all started by saying ‘yes'” said Speaker Adams on Tuesday. She indicated that the plan is “the key to unlocking the American Dream, a path towards stability, and an opportunity that’s been out of grasp for too many for too long.”
Unlike localized rezoning, the City of Yes for Housing plan does not alter specific local zoning designations but modifies the overall zoning code to facilitate citywide housing production. It looks to simplify the construction of secondary suites, communal living, and infill buildings on educational or religious properties. The proposal would once again permit the construction of residential units above commercial shops in low-density areas where such developments have been restricted by zoning laws. It would allow for the construction of larger buildings, ranging from three to five stories, near subway stations and other transit hubs. Additionally, it plans to eliminate minimum parking requirements for new developments and offers a 20 percent density bonus for developers in select neighborhoods, provided the additional housing units are income-restricted.
Public consultations for the proposal began in April, receiving mixed feedback from community boards, though four out of five borough presidents has already expressed their support. In late September, the City Planning Commission voted 10-3 in favor of the plan. The City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises is set to host its first public meeting on the City of Yes for Housing initiative on October 21. During this session, officials from Mayor Adams’ administration will provide testimony and address questions from council members. With varying degrees of backing from borough presidents, community boards, and the Planning Commission, these discussions will play a important role for the future of housing development and affordability in New York City.
You made some first rate points there so i love to read your stuff. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much! It means a lot
City of Yes sounds good on paper, but we have to make sure that it includes real affordability protections
We need more housing, period. Zoning laws have been outdated for decades and have made it nearly impossible to build in NYC
I don’t think people understand just how outdated NYC’s zoning laws are. We still have rules from the 1960s that make it illegal to build housing over storefronts in some areas. It’s ridiculous that it’s taken this long to address.
yeah I agree but I’m scared that there’s a tradeoff happening here. What if there is a progressive buy-in for what is ultimately a developer-friendly upzoning plan?
Let’s hope for the best
Hopefully this plan will just lead to more luxury condos instead of housing for the people who need it most
yes although this feels like a major moment for NYC housing policy, it’s hard to get excited when past zoning changes have mostly benefited developers.
only time can tell
well NYC’s permitting process is notoriously slow so its going be to a long wait lol
also lets hope that its actually affordable because nyc has its own definition of “affordable” unlike other cities
Good to see public consultations happening. Hopefully, real concerns about affordability and displacement are taken seriously
FINALLY BECAUSE ITS ABOUT TIME
Why does every housing discussion in NYC turn into a fight? The reality is we need more housing, and this plan is a step forward
The American Dream is unattainable for most New Yorker because rent is still too high!
Unless this includes stronger tenant protections, I think it’s just going to push more working-class New Yorkers out
eliminating parking minimums is the right move. We need housing more than we need more empty parking spaces
Secondary suites and communal living are great ideas
So four out of five borough presidents support this? Then why are so many community boards pushing back
Developers getting a 20% density bonus sounds nice, but let’s make sure it actually leads to housing for low-income families
this is my main concern too because there is essentially no point if the low-income and homeless aren’t able to benefit from this
The Gowanus rezoning led to NYCHA investments. What kind of community benefits are we getting from City of Yes?
That’s the key question. It should include major investments for working-class New Yorkers
Most major city in the world allows residential units above commercial shops. NYC’s zoning laws are completely outdated
I have a feeling that this will be the one, especially with how many people are struggling and how long
Housing crises aren’t just about supply. Wages haven’t kept up with rent, and eviction protections are weak. Upzoning is necessary, but if we don’t address the root causes of affordability, we’re just creating more expensive units.
The biggest concern I have is whether the affordable units from the 20% density bonus will be actually affordable. NYC has a long history of defining ‘affordable’ in ways that don’t match what working-class people can afford.
yeah, I read another article about how like 100,000 isn’t enough living in nyc
I honestly think removing parking minimums is a huge deal! It costs tens of thousands of dollars to add parking spaces to new developments, and that gets passed down in rent. More walkable and transit-accessible housing sounds a lot better
I’m surprised this article doesn’t mention who’s actually opposing the plan. Wealthy homeowners and NIMBYs will fight this tooth and nail. Are they showing up to these public consultations to shut it down?
I want to see like more discussion on who will be responsible for enforcing these zoning changes. Just because something is legal to build doesn’t mean developers will actually do it.
I think there is an incentive for them to build it…something like 20 percent bonus so they probably will do it