New York City’s has constantly struggled with housing shortages due to many factors; the high cost of living, long commutes, cramped apartments, even complicated zoning laws which limit opportunities to create new homes and make those that do get built more expensive.
Mayor Eric Adams’s proposal of The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity would build more affordable housing in every neighborhood, yet keep the characteristics and aesthetics of those existing neighborhoods. The proposal will not change the zoning designation of any site or have any significant effects on the property value of nearby homes.
The key components of the plan are:
Universal Affordability Preference (UAP): Allow buildings to add at least 20% more housing if the additional homes are affordable to households earning an average of 60% Area Median Income. Allowing new affordable housing in high-cost neighborhoods across New York City to working families.
Convert Offices and Other Buildings to Housing: Make it easier for vacant offices and other non-residential buildings to become much-needed homes. Not only increasing housing, but also boosting property values, and creating more active, vibrant neighborhoods in areas that have been hard-hit by the effects of the pandemic.
Lift Costly Parking Mandates: Reduce housing costs by making parking optional in new buildings, since current mandates off-street parking along with new housing even where it's not needed, driving down housing production and driving up rents.
Accessory Dwelling Units: Allow backyard cottages, garage conversions, and basement apartments, giving homeowners extra cash and providing space for multi-generational families.
Town Center Zoning: Many buildings exist with stores on the street and apartments above, however, most of them were built from the 1920s to 1950s and zoning today prohibits them. Re-legalizing 2-4 stories of housing above businesses in low-density areas would match their surroundings and provide urgently needed homes.
Transit-Oriented Development: Many buildings in lower-density areas of the five boroughs are located near transit, however, most of them were built from the 1920s to 1950s and zoning today prohibits them. Re-legalizing these 3, 4 and 5 story, transit-oriented apartment buildings in low-density residence districts, would help to alleviate the severe housing shortage.
Campuses: There are many types of campuses, from churches to private residential co-ops, campuses and schools. Many of which have underused space that they could turn into housing, if arbitrary zoning rules didn’t get in the way. By removing obstacles and streamlining outdated rules, it would be easier to add new contextual, height-limited buildings to campuses. These new buildings could bring money for repairs, new facilities, and housing.
Small and Shared Housing: The ban of shared housing in the 1950s and apartment buildings full of studio apartments in the 1960s has both contributed to the homelessness crisis in the decades since and forced people who would prefer to live alone into living with roommates. Re-legalizing these types of housing would allowing more small and shared apartments will also open up larger, family-sized apartments otherwise be occupied by roommates, and allow buildings with more studios and one-bedrooms for the many New Yorkers who want to live alone but don’t have that option today.
Besides providing more housing, the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity would add an estimated $58.2 billion to NYC’s economy and create more than 260,000 jobs in the construction and service sectors alone.
The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity began public review in April 2024, after the community boards and borough presidents provided input and a public hearing was held by the City Planning Commission (CPC), the CPC approved the proposal in September 2024. Now, it goes to the City Council for a final vote before the end of the year.
