AIANY Combined Testimony to City Council on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity

AIA New York strongly supports the proposed citywide zoning text amendment, City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. Our city’s housing shortage is in no small part a result of decades of restrictive zoning laws. The proposal takes an all of the above approach, making critical changes to the city’s zoning to eliminate antiquated barriers that restrict development, enabling every neighborhood to do their part to build affordable housing. We encourage the Council to invest in the City’s capital budget for affordable housing and in critical infrastructure projects, such as sewars and public space, while also passing this proposal in its entirety. Each component of the proposal builds on the other to create the housing we need. Take out parking mandates, for example, and key elements of the proposal like Transit Oriented Development, Town Center Zoning, or Accessory Dwelling Units do not work. To achieve the intended impact of 100,000 units over the next 15 years, the proposal must be passed with all key proposals intact.

Note: The attached document includes testimony from Bria Donohue, Senior Manager of Government Affairs; Housing Committee Members Eric Goshow, Darrick Borowski, John Woelfling, and Marc Pittsley; and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Member Jim Wright.