by: Bria Donahue
Today, the Yes to Housing Coalition—a group of over 120 pro-housing advocates—joined together in support of the citywide zoning text amendment proposal, City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. The proposal is aimed at removing antiquated and unnecessary barriers to housing production to add housing in every neighborhood citywide.
Currently, New Yorkers are struggling as a result of the ongoing housing crisis. Nearly 500,000 households across the city are severely burdened, spending more than 50% of their household income on rent. In addition, housing vacancy rates are the lowest they have been since 1968 at 1.41%, down from 4.5% in 2021. The production of new housing has not kept up with demand. Between 2021 and 2023, only 60,000 units were produced while the population grew by 275,000 households.
City of Yes for Housing Opportunity is projected to create 150,000 new housing units over the next 15 years across the city. The proposal includes:
- Universal Affordability Preference – a tool to allow buildings to add at least 20% more housing if additional units are affordable
- Conversions to Residential Housing – amends outdated rules that create barriers to conversions
- Town Center Zoning – re-legalizes housing above businesses on commercial streets in low-density areas
- Removing Parking Mandates – eliminates mandate for off-street parking with new housing and preserves option to add parking
- Accessory Dwelling Units – allows ADUs such as backyard cottages, garage conversions, and basement apartments
- Transit Oriented Development – relegalizes 3 to 5 story buildings within a half-mile of public transit on large lots with wide streets or corners
- Campuses – eliminates barriers for new construction on residential, faith-based, or other campuses with underused space