NYC Gazette

In response to New York City's ongoing housing crisis, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine has proposed changes to the "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" (COY Housing) plan. This initiative aims to reform zoning regulations to increase housing production across the city.

"New York City is facing an unprecedented housing crisis," said Borough President Levine. "An anemic production rate is accelerating demand sending rents skyrocketing, forcing families out of the five boroughs. It’s time for a change."

The COY Housing proposal is currently under public review and requires feedback from Borough Presidents and Community Boards before it can advance to the City Planning Commission for a vote.

Borough President Levine expressed support for the plan on Tuesday, recognizing its potential to create affordable housing but also suggesting several enhancements to improve its effectiveness.

To bolster these recommendations, Levine's office conducted an analysis of how the "City of Yes" plan might impact Manhattan and released a detailed report. "City of Yes is a transformative initiative that addresses many critical aspects of our housing crisis. However, with the proposed enhancements, we can make an already great plan even more powerful in delivering the affordable housing New Yorkers desperately need," he stated.

Current zoning rules impede converting vacant office buildings into residences, prioritize parking over housing development, and limit new construction near transit hubs and businesses—factors that contribute to the city's housing shortage.

Levine believes COY Housing could significantly change the city's ability to produce affordable housing but identified areas for improvement:

1. Incentives for Affordable Housing: The city proposes offering developers more space if they include affordable apartments through Universal Affordability Preference (UAP). Recommendations include requiring tracking by the City Planning Commission on UAP use by condo and co-op developments before removing off-site options and ensuring supportive housing includes programming spaces.

2. Turning Offices into Homes: Simplifying conversions of empty offices into apartments could lead to more homes in underutilized spaces. Recommendations include adding a sunset date for this provision, developing guidelines for historic district conversions, and requiring building amenities like large trash rooms and bicycle storage.

3. Less Parking, More Housing: Eliminating mandatory parking space requirements could allow more residential development. Recommendations suggest collaborating with other city agencies on alternative infrastructure such as bike paths and instituting a municipal parking program with the Department of Transportation.

4. Building Homes on Campus: Proposed zoning changes aim to facilitate new contextual housing on underused college campuses and religious properties. Recommendations involve requiring mitigations for lost open space, developing mechanisms for affordable units where Mandatory Inclusionary Housing does not apply, and ensuring consultation with local communities and NYCHA residents.

5. Smaller, More Affordable Apartments: Easing restrictions on smaller apartments could help those unable to afford solo living find options within their means. Recommendations call for onsite social services in projects with supportive units and updating Department of Housing Preservation and Development requirements to include alternative typologies.

For further details on Borough President Levine's comprehensive report regarding optimization suggestions for the "City of Yes" plan, interested parties are encouraged to visit his office's website.