Policy

NYC’s Atlantic Avenue rezoning plan calls for 4,000 new homes and more open space

Preliminary vision of Atlantic Avenue looking west. Courtesy of NYC Planning.

September 11, 2023

NYC’s Atlantic Avenue rezoning plan calls for 4,000 new homes and more open space

The city wants to bring 4,000 new apartments to a stretch of Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue currently home to vacant lots and auto shops. The Department of City Planning last week released the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, a preliminary rezoning framework for 13 blocks of an industrially zoned area that runs through Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Fort Greene, and Bed-Stuy. The rezoning would allow for higher destiny residential and commercial use, with the potential for up to 1,550 income-restricted homes. Following additional community meetings and an environmental review, the proposal could enter the public review process in the spring of next year.
details here

‘QueensLink’ proposal to extend M train picks up steam

Rendering courtesy of QueensLink

September 8, 2023

‘QueensLink’ proposal to extend M train picks up steam

By Aaron Ginsburg

A proposal to reactivate an abandoned railway and create the first north-to-south subway line in Queens is picking up steam. A coalition of New York City public officials and transit advocacy groups rallied in front of City Hall on Wednesday in favor of QueensLink, a plan to extend the M train from Rego Park to the Rockaways as a way to reduce travel time for borough residents who face some of the longest commutes in the country. While the plan has attracted more supporters in recent months, Mayor Eric Adams last year came out in favor of a competing plan to turn the defunct tracks into a public park.
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NYC property tax has risen disproportionately for working-class homeowners, report finds

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

September 6, 2023

NYC property tax has risen disproportionately for working-class homeowners, report finds

By Aaron Ginsburg

Property tax in New York City has risen since the pandemic, with most of the burden placed on working and middle-class homeowners, according to a report. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on Wednesday released a new report that found property tax bills have continued to increase, despite property values decreasing for a large number of condos, co-ops, and rental apartments across the city. According to DiNapoli, the way the city calculates property taxes makes lower-valued properties pay a higher property tax, putting a bigger burden on lower-income New Yorkers and less on the wealthy.
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Policy

New York City begins crackdown on short-term rentals

Photo courtesy of baaelectronics on Flickr

September 5, 2023

New York City begins crackdown on short-term rentals

By Aaron Ginsburg

Could this be the end of Airbnb in New York City? The city on Tuesday officially kicked off enforcement of new regulations on short-term rentals, preventing property owners from renting their homes for less than 30 days unless registered and verified by the city. Hosts who fail to do so may face fines of up to $5,000, while Airbnb could face fines of up to $1,500 for transactions on unverified rentals.
Learn more about the future of airbnb's in nyc

Policy

NYC transit system still widely inaccessible despite recent improvements

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

September 1, 2023

NYC transit system still widely inaccessible despite recent improvements

By Aaron Ginsburg

While the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has picked up the pace of making New York City's public transit system more accessible, the agency still has a long way to go before it can be totally accessible. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA on Thursday announced the completion of the project making Grand Street L subway station fully accessible, marking the fourth station across the five boroughs that have been made fully accessible this year. Despite the agency's recent efforts, the city's transit system is still incredibly difficult for riders with disabilities to navigate because a majority of stations lack elevators, ramps, and other accessible features.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MTA'S ACCESSIBILITY

New York to prioritize ‘pro-housing’ localities for $650M in funding

Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash

August 31, 2023

New York to prioritize ‘pro-housing’ localities for $650M in funding

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York is moving forward with a plan to spur housing development across the state. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday officially launched the Pro-Housing Communities Program, an effort that will prioritize up to $650 million in funding to localities across New York that are committed to creating housing. As part of the initiative, certified Pro-Housing Communities will have priority over other localities when applying for funding through the program, which has begun accepting applications.
read more about hochul's initiative

Policy

NYC Council approves five-year permit for Madison Square Garden

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

August 29, 2023

NYC Council approves five-year permit for Madison Square Garden

By Aaron Ginsburg

Madison Square Garden will remain above Penn Station, but for not as long as its owners want. Two New York City Council committees on Monday voted to renew the arena's special permit for five years, which would be the shortest operating permit given to the Garden if approved by the full Council next month. MSG owner James Dolan had hoped to secure a permanent extension of the operating permit which expired earlier this year.
details here

Tap-to-pay OMNY system finally comes to the Roosevelt Island Tram

Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

August 25, 2023

Tap-to-pay OMNY system finally comes to the Roosevelt Island Tram

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers are now able to tap to pay to board the Roosevelt Island Tramway. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday announced the tram, which takes riders 250 feet above the East River between Manhattan's east side and Roosevelt Island in just four minutes, is the first non-MTA-operated service to accept OMNY. To pay the fare, riders can now tap their credit cards or mobile devices at the 59th Street and 2nd Avenue tram station in Manhattan and at Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island.
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13,000+ rent-stabilized units in NYC have been vacant for multiple years

Photo © 6sqft

August 25, 2023

13,000+ rent-stabilized units in NYC have been vacant for multiple years

By Aaron Ginsburg

Upwards of 13,000 rent-stabilized homes in New York City have sat vacant over the past two years, according to a new report. Out of 42,275 rent-stabilized apartments listed in April 2022, many of which were marked as "newly vacant," 13,362 units remained empty for two consecutive years, up from 12,300 in 2021, according to the report by the city's Independent Budget Office. These data points are making officials question whether the units are vacant due to tenants moving in and out or whether they have been "warehoused," or deliberately taken off the market, according to Gothamist.
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Photo via Wikimedia

August 22, 2023

Feds approve asylum seeker shelter at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field will be home to New York City's latest migrant shelter. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a deal was reached for the federal government to provide New York State with a proposed lease of the former naval air station in Marine Park. The governor said the new Humanitarian Emergency Relief and Response Center (HERRC) will be able to house up to 2,000 single adult asylum seekers. While the governor initially requested that the federal government pick up the bill for constructing and staffing the shelter, the state agreed to cover the expenses, according to Gothamist.
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Policy

Pedestrian, public space upgrades slated for Broadway near Union Square

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City wants to better connect the Flatiron District and Union Square. As part of an expansion of the city's "Broadway Vision" plan, Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced plans to upgrade public space on Broadway from East 21st Street to East 17th Street, including bike lanes, pedestrian space, and expanded outdoor dining. The Department of Transportation will launch public outreach for the expansion this week, gathering feedback on the improvements, specifically, a new two-way bike boulevard.
read more about broadway vision

Policy

Adams announces Midtown South rezoning, plan to convert offices to housing

Midtown Manhattan. Photo by Phil Hauser on Unsplash

August 17, 2023

Adams announces Midtown South rezoning, plan to convert offices to housing

By Aaron Ginsburg

New housing will be allowed in parts of Midtown Manhattan for the first time in decades under a plan announced by Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday. The mayor wants to update zoning rules to allow for the construction of new apartments in a 42-block area stretching from 23rd Street to 40th Street and from Fifth Avenue to Eighth Avenue, which is currently designated for manufacturing use. The start of the rezoning effort joins another proposal from the Adams administration to facilitate and expedite office-to-housing conversions across every borough, as the city continues to face a housing shortage.
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Plan to bring Van Cortlandt Park’s Tibbetts Brook above ground moves forward

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

August 17, 2023

Plan to bring Van Cortlandt Park’s Tibbetts Brook above ground moves forward

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to unearth parts of a body of water in the Bronx that has been covered for more than a century is moving forward. The New York City Public Design Commission on Monday unanimously approved the preliminary design plan for the Tibbetts Brook Daylight and Greenway Project in Van Cortlandt Park, a project that will help remove the brook's clean water from the sewer system and ultimately reduce flooding and sewage overflow into the Harlem River. The $133 million project could face delays due to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the land that is part of the construction project, according to the City.
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Avoid rodent run-ins–or rat out your landlord–with NYC’s newest interactive rat map

Map courtesy of New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

August 16, 2023

Avoid rodent run-ins–or rat out your landlord–with NYC’s newest interactive rat map

By Michelle Cohen

The mayor's notorious war on rats is heating up. Along with the recent appointment of Kathleen Corradi as the city's $155K/year rat czar, New Yorkers have some new tools in our digital rat-fighting arsenal in the form of an updated interactive map and a revamped rat information portal. Adding firepower to the battle are a handful of super-military-sounding RMZs (Rat Mitigation Zones), complete with training academies to help neighborhood combatants put up their best fight. And Harlem recently hosted an Anti-Rat Day of Action.
New rat map, this way

Policy

Two Bronx parks with fascinating NYC history may become landmarks

Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Enslaved African Burial Ground. Photo courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

August 16, 2023

Two Bronx parks with fascinating NYC history may become landmarks

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar two Bronx parks with unique New York City history for possible landmark status. The Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Enslaved African Burial Ground is a colonial-era burial ground that includes the long-forgotten site of a cemetery for enslaved people. The Old Croton Aqueduct Walk is a popular walking path on top of the famous aqueduct that brought the city its first direct source of water in 1842.
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Policy

NYC pushing for bigger, wider electric cargo bikes

Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation on Flickr

August 14, 2023

NYC pushing for bigger, wider electric cargo bikes

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is looking to permit bigger electric cargo bikes to deliver more goods more sustainably. The city's Department of Transportation on Monday announced a proposed rule allowing the use of pedal-assist bikes that are up to 48 inches wide with four wheels, compared to the currently permitted 36-inch-wide bikes with three wheels. The extra width and wheel would make the bikes easier to use, reducing the number of delivery trucks on city streets and cutting vehicle emissions and traffic. The announcement kicks off the 30-day public comment period, with a public hearing scheduled for next month.
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NYC opening 2,000-bed migrant shelter on Randall’s Island

Photo by Tdorante10 on Wikimedia

August 10, 2023

NYC opening 2,000-bed migrant shelter on Randall’s Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

It's round two for a shelter on Randall's Island. Mayor Eric Adams this week announced plans to construct a new humanitarian relief center for 2,000 single adult men seeking asylum. The city opened a shelter for migrants on Randall's Island in November but shut it down a month later after it sat mostly empty. As the crisis continues for the city, which has received nearly 100,000 people since last spring, Adams said a shelter of this scale is necessary.
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Policy

Redevelopment of historic armory in the Bronx moves forward

Photo courtesy of Darren McGee/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

August 8, 2023

Redevelopment of historic armory in the Bronx moves forward

By Aaron Ginsburg

Plans to redevelop the historic Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx have been revived after nearly three decades of discarded plans. Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday said a request for proposals will be issued next month to develop the landmark, which was built for military use in 1917 and has been largely vacant since the 1990s. In addition to a combined $200 million investment from the city and state, Adams and Hochul unveiled the "Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan," which includes the goals of the project as envisioned by the community and local stakeholders. With proposals due by the end of the year, construction could begin in 2027.
Details here

Policy

Rec center in McCarren Park to house asylum seekers

Photo © 6sqft

August 4, 2023

Rec center in McCarren Park to house asylum seekers

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is preparing to house asylum seekers in a recreation center in Brooklyn's McCarren Park starting this weekend, Politico reports. Roughly 80 to 100 people will be housed within one wing of the Williamsburg rec center. Officials say public access to the pool and fitness center will not be impacted by the new shelter.
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Policy

NYC outdoor dining made permanent with new regulations

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

August 4, 2023

NYC outdoor dining made permanent with new regulations

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Council on Thursday voted to establish a permanent outdoor dining program that aims to better regulate the popular pandemic-era initiative. Under the approved legislation, restaurants can operate outdoor dining sheds known as "streeteries" for eight months of the year but must remove the structures during the winter. Sidewalk dining will be allowed year-round. According to city officials, the new program makes it easier for businesses to apply and will open the program up to more restaurants.
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Adams touts affordable housing production as city runs out of room for migrants

Photo Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

August 3, 2023

Adams touts affordable housing production as city runs out of room for migrants

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City created more supportive housing and homes for formerly homeless New Yorkers during fiscal year 2023 than any year on record, Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday. Between June 2022 and June 2023, the mayor said the city produced 27,000 affordable homes, including new construction and preservation of existing homes, and connected the largest number of people to permanent housing using the CityFHEPS vouchers in the program's history. The announcement comes just days after Adams announced the city had run out of space to house the thousands of asylum seekers arriving weekly, leading to many migrants sleeping outside of the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown this week.
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Lower East Side corner named for Economy Candy founder

Photo courtesy of the New York City Council

July 31, 2023

Lower East Side corner named for Economy Candy founder

By Aaron Ginsburg

The corner of Rivington and Essex Streets on the Lower East Side has been co-named "Morris 'Moishe' Cohen Way" to honor the founder of New York City's oldest candy shop. After returning home from World War II, Cohen took over Economy Candy, which quickly became a neighborhood staple, serving candy, chocolate, nuts, and gift baskets. His family has pushed for the co-naming since Cohen's death at the age of 97 in 2015. After the City Council approved the naming earlier this year, the street corner was officially renamed on Saturday.
Details here

Policy

Upper East Side rental to be razed and replaced with high-end condo from Eliot Spitzer

Rendering courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

July 25, 2023

Upper East Side rental to be razed and replaced with high-end condo from Eliot Spitzer

By Aaron Ginsburg

An Upper East Side rental will be demolished and replaced with a new luxury condominium developed by former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's firm. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans from Spitzer Enterprises to raze the 25-story, 46-unit building at 985 Fifth Avenue and build a completely new tower with just 26 apartments. The commission concluded the existing building does not contribute to the cohesion of the Metropolitan Museum Historic District, allowing demolition to proceed. Designed by Studio Sofield and SLCE, the new condo building would rise 19 stories and feature a limestone facade with setbacks, according to The Real Deal.
Details here

Adams latest mayor to tackle NYC’s 400 miles of scaffolding with ‘get sheds down’ plan

Photo by Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

July 24, 2023

Adams latest mayor to tackle NYC’s 400 miles of scaffolding with ‘get sheds down’ plan

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City officials have a plan to remove sidewalks sheds and scaffolding from city streets. Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo on Monday revealed "Get Sheds Down," a comprehensive overhaul of the city's scaffolding policies that aim to hastily remove longstanding sidewalk sheds and redesign them to be less intrusive using alternatives like safety netting. Under the new policy, property owners will face bigger fines if their sidewalk sheds occupy space for too long.
Details here

Policy

New Jersey sues to block NYC’s congestion pricing plan

Photo by Raidarmax on Wikimedia

July 21, 2023

New Jersey sues to block NYC’s congestion pricing plan

By Devin Gannon

New Jersey is suing to block New York's congestion pricing program. Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Friday a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, claiming the plan to charge drivers entering certain parts of Manhattan is unfair to Garden State residents. In the complaint, the state said the agencies did not conduct a full environmental review.
Details here

Policy

NYC’s Atlantic Avenue rezoning plan calls for 4,000 new homes and more open space

‘QueensLink’ proposal to extend M train picks up steam

NYC property tax has risen disproportionately for working-class homeowners, report finds

New York City begins crackdown on short-term rentals

NYC transit system still widely inaccessible despite recent improvements

New York to prioritize ‘pro-housing’ localities for $650M in funding

NYC Council approves five-year permit for Madison Square Garden

Tap-to-pay OMNY system finally comes to the Roosevelt Island Tram

13,000+ rent-stabilized units in NYC have been vacant for multiple years

Feds approve asylum seeker shelter at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field

Pedestrian, public space upgrades slated for Broadway near Union Square

Adams announces Midtown South rezoning, plan to convert offices to housing

Plan to bring Van Cortlandt Park’s Tibbetts Brook above ground moves forward

Avoid rodent run-ins–or rat out your landlord–with NYC’s newest interactive rat map

Two Bronx parks with fascinating NYC history may become landmarks

For $3.75M, this two-unit Crown Heights townhouse is filled with historic details and modern necessities

NYC pushing for bigger, wider electric cargo bikes

NYC opening 2,000-bed migrant shelter on Randall’s Island

Redevelopment of historic armory in the Bronx moves forward

Rec center in McCarren Park to house asylum seekers

NYC outdoor dining made permanent with new regulations

Adams touts affordable housing production as city runs out of room for migrants

Lower East Side corner named for Economy Candy founder

Upper East Side rental to be razed and replaced with high-end condo from Eliot Spitzer

Adams latest mayor to tackle NYC’s 400 miles of scaffolding with ‘get sheds down’ plan

New Jersey sues to block NYC’s congestion pricing plan

138 Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn

Policy

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