On Thursday, the New York City Council voted to approve Mayor Eric Adams’ “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan. This follows approvals from two key council subcommittees at the end of last month. The citywide rezoning initiative aims to create 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years and invest $5 billion in critical infrastructure updates and housing.
“This is a momentous day for New York City, especially for working-class residents,” said Mayor Adams. “We have shown that government can still be bold and courageous by passing one of the most pro-housing pieces of legislation in our city’s history. Our administration has been advocating for this proposal for over a year now, and it is gratifying to know that lower rent will be one of its many benefits.”
Some highlights from the plan include:
– Introducing a Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) which would allow medium- and high-density developments to build roughly 20% more housing as long as those additional units are permanently affordable.
– Legalizing small accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in one- or two-family homes with some restrictions in certain areas due to concerns about flooding or neighborhood context.
– Permitting transit-oriented development near public transportation hubs as well as Town Center zoning along commercial corridors which would allow three-, four-, or five-story apartment buildings.
– Allowing height-limited contextual development on large campuses or lots owned by faith-based organizations who were previously unable to use their existing development rights due outdated rules.
– Revising parking mandates through a three-zone system where Zone 1 eliminates them entirely while reducing them in Zone 2; they remain unchanged only within Zone3
– Creating new high-density zoning districts that require mandatory affordable housing within central areas where there is high demand.
Other changes include relegalizing small shared living spaces with common facilities like kitchens, making it easier convert non-residential buildings into residential ones, and providing incentives for developers to include affordable housing in their projects.
