The New York City Council passed the City of Yes Housing Opportunity, a sweeping set of zoning reforms and other measures meant to increase the city’s housing stock, as New Yorkers face a vacancy rate of just 1.4 percent (a housing scarcity not seen since the 1960s) and record rates of homelessness. Originally proposed by Eric Adams in September of last year, the measure passed 31-20 after months of public debate (including a 14-hour hearing in July) and negotiations between the mayor and the city’s legislative body. “Today is a historic day in New York City, but, more importantly, for working-class New Yorkers,” the mayor said in announcing the bill’s passage. “We showed the nation that government can still be bold and brave by passing the most pro-housing piece of legislation in city history.”
The catchphrase for the bill, often repeated by Adams and officials form the Department of City Planning, was “to build a little more housing in every neighborhood” through a series of zoning changes. One major component is the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP), which would allow for roughly 20 percent more housing in medium- and high-density developments under the condition that the increased housing would be permanently affordable. This particular provision has been a source of controversy, with residents and media pundits alike expressing doubts that developers would spring for the extra space under these conditions, while officials at DCP maintain that these incentives have a proven track record of effectiveness. The mayor’s office claims that such an incentive could have already created 20,000 new homes if it had been adopted in 2014.
Another major provision in the bill is the legalization of small accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which would be additions to one and two-family homes that use spaces like garages, attics, and basements. This is a housing solution that has already been adopted in other cities across the country. New York City is setting programs for low or no-interest loans to make such home modifications easier for households that qualify, as well as a $4 million grant state grant for the initiative. There are also zoning provisions to limit basement ADUs in areas prone to flooding. While the UAP is expected to boost housing stock in higher-density areas, ADUs are expected to be part of the solution for lower density neighborhoods in the outer boroughs. Officials estimate that ADUs will make up around 20,000 of the expected 80,000 additional new homes anticipated with the passage of City of Yes.
The bill also allocates $5 billion in infrastructure and affordable housing investments. This particular provision came out of a compromise with a bill proposed by City Council members dubbed City for All. “By taking a major step to address the housing shortage, while supporting existing homeowners and tenants,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who pushed for the funding, “we are advancing a safer and stronger city.”
The passage of the bill is a major victory for the embattled Mayor Adams, who is facing federal corruption charges, and has courted controversy this week with his newfound hardline stance on immigration.
