Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams Celebrate Passage of "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity"
(Dec. 10, 2024) On Dec. 5th, Governor Kathy Hochul, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and City leaders celebrated the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” which is being hailed by the officials as the most pro-housing zoning proposal in NYC history. The citywide rezoning is expected to enable the creation of 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years and invest $5 billion, which includes $1 billion in State funding, toward critical infrastructure updates and housing.
Highlights of the City of Yes agreement include:
- Creating the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP), allowing roughly 20 percent more housing in medium- and high-density developments, as long as the additional homes are permanently affordable.
- Legalizing small accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for one- and two-family homes, with some restrictions in limited areas to address concerns around flooding and neighborhood context. ADUs, which include backyard cottages and converted garages, can give homeowners extra income and allow family members to age in place.
- Permitting transit-oriented development and Town Center zoning to create apartment buildings near most transit and along commercial corridors, with affordability incentives for projects with more than roughly 50 homes.
- Allowing height-limited, contextual development on large campuses or lots, including those owned by faith-based organizations, that previously could not use their existing development rights because of outdated and conflicting rules.
- Rolling back parking mandates for new residential construction through a three-zone system, with mandates lifted entirely in “Zone 1.”
- Enacting new high-density zoning districts that would allow more housing, including mandatory affordable housing in high-demand central areas.
- Re-legalizing small and shared housing models with common features like kitchens.
- Making it easier to convert offices and other non-residential buildings into housing.
$1 billion in City funding will be committed to housing capital; $2 billion to infrastructure projects that will support investments in sewer and flood infrastructure, street improvements, and open space; and $1 billion over 10 years to tenant protection, flood monitoring, neighborhood planning, and voucher assistance and combating source-of-income discrimination. An additional $1 billion in State funding will be committed to housing capital over the next five years, subject to State budget approval.
The passage of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity follows an extensive public review process, including over 175 Community Board meetings, 10 public information sessions, a City Planning Commission hearing, and more.
“Today’s historic zoning reforms will help repair our history of segregation and exclusion by ensuring every neighborhood does its part to solve our housing and affordability crises,” said Rachel Fee, executive director of the NY Housing Conference. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to add 80,000 new units of housing for New Yorkers of all income levels and invest in housing and infrastructure citywide.”
Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866