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COMMUNITY OP-ED OCTOBER 13, 2023 | The Indian Eye 20

‘City of Yes’:

The Future of Housing in NYC

Half of all New Yorkers today are rent burdened, which means that they spend more than 30 percent of their
income on rent. In some communities, that number is even higher. Too many New Yorkers struggle with rent,

and far too many New Yorkers are at risk of poverty and homelessness

ERIC ADAMS

ur administration recently
proposed the most ambitious
Opro-housing zoning chang- The plan aims to boost housing supply by 100,000 homes in neighborhoods across the city over the next 15 years
es in the history of New York City — supporting a quarter of a million New Yorkers (File photo)
— changes that would rewrite the
wrongs of the past and clear the way new housing so many New Yorkers lion New Yorkers — while simultane- tional changes that have succeeded
toward building the kinds of housing want: modern apartment buildings, ously creating 250,000 family-sustain- at providing more affordable, stable
New York City so desperately needs. beautiful brownstones, and affordable ing jobs. It will help us get the housing housing in other cities, which virtually
The 1961 Zoning Resolution condos — all in mixed-use neighbor- we need for working people, growing every housing expert and city planner
drastically changed the way our city hoods with multiple transit options. families, new arrivals, young people agree on. In order to make them a
would build housing and office space Our proposal will incentivize af- just starting out, and older folks look- reality, these rules will have to be ap-
for over six decades, restricting the fordable housing, build more housing ing to age in place. proved by our City Council.
kinds of housing that could be built in near transit hubs, convert unused Half of all New Yorkers today are The Department of City Plan-
certain neighborhoods, and effective- office space into apartments, and al- rent burdened, which means that they ning has just begun the process to ad-
ly deciding who was allowed to live low homeowners to build so-called spend more than 30 percent of their vance this proposal. With public sup-
where. “granny flats” on their property. We income on rent. In some communi- port, these changes could be in effect
We can never lose sight of the are also proposing that campuses, in- ties, that number is even higher. Too starting next fall.
fact that many of those who pushed cluding houses of worship and other many New Yorkers struggle with rent, We look forward to working with
for the 1961 Zoning Code aimed to faith-based institutions, be allowed and far too many New Yorkers are at New Yorkers, housing advocates,
promote racial segregation. to develop housing on their existing risk of poverty and homelessness. community leaders, elected officials,
In addition to that injustice, the properties — effectively saying, “Yes Our administration has already and our brothers and sisters in labor
1961 code prioritized highways and in God’s backyard.” And finally, we done important things to combat the unions to help make this a reality.
cars over housing and mass transit, are determined to prioritize people housing crisis, including increasing the Because the future of housing is
and limited growth rather than en- over parking by lifting parking man- number of affordable homes, produc- the future of New York City.
couraging it. dates for new developments, a major ing the most new supportive homes If we do this right, decades from
These restrictive and increasing- shift that will bring down costs of new and homes for formerly homeless now, New Yorkers will see this mo-
ly complicated zoning rules are ulti- housing all over the five boroughs. New Yorkers, and connecting more ment for what it was: a turning point
mately what got us to where we are Under this proposal, while people New Yorkers to permanent homes away from exclusionary policies and
today: a city that has failed to create will still be allowed to add parking, with CityFHEPS housing vouchers outdated ideas, and towards a more
enough housing for New Yorkers. no one will be forced to build parking than ever in the program’s history. equitable future.
Our plan will end this longstand- they don’t want. But increasing supply is the sur- It will be the moment when we
ing history of injustice and allow us to This plan aims to boost housing est path to bringing down rents and came together and decided to be a
build a little more housing in every supply by 100,000 homes in neighbor- giving New Yorkers a break from the ‘City of Yes.’
neighborhood. The zoning updates hoods across the city over the next 15 constant pressure of housing costs. Eric Adams is
we are proposing will help build the years — supporting a quarter of a mil- These are major, transforma- the Mayor of New York City, NY

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