Proposed NYC Zoning Changes Would Expand Opportunities for Senior Housing Development

New York City Mayor Bill DiBlasio has proposed sweeping changes to the city's zoning regulations. One of the major changes would be to reduce parking requirements for senior housing, which would allow underutilized parking areas to be developed into new space for affordable senior housing commuities.

LeadingAge New York member Stuart Kaplan, CEO of Selfhelp Community Services, argues that these changes are necessary and logical, given the difficulty of finding new land to accomodate the increasing need for senior housing throughout the city. In an opinion piece published last week in City & State, Mr. Kaplan urges the City Council and community leaders to support the changes.

Last year, a coalition of senior housing organizations led by LiveOn New York published a report that found 39 sites with underutilized parking areas that could accomodate up to 2,000 new units of senior housing. Several of the key recommendations in the study were included in the Mayor's proposal.

The New York City Planning Commission will meet to act on the proposal this month, and the New York City Council is expected to take up the issue in early 2016. Details of the proposal can be found on the NYC Planning Department web site. 

Contact: John Broderick, jbroderick@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8835