NYC Council responds to ‘City of Yes’ with housing plan that goes beyond zoning

The New York City Council has released a housing plan as a counter-proposal to Mayor Eric Adams’ “City of Yes” plan. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams last week announced “City for All,” which pairs the zoning changes of the mayor’s plan, currently under review by the Council, with several measures and funding demands to ensure affordability for renters and homeowners.

Council approval is the last hurdle for City of Yes, approved by the City Planning Commission in September in a 10 to 3 vote. With Adams’ indictment last month and his poor approval ratings, the Council is capitalizing on this moment to push for more “holistic solutions.”

“New Yorkers need more housing, but affordability, homeownership opportunities, housing security and stability, and neighborhood investments are equally important to help working- and middle-class residents in our city,” Speaker Adams said.

“In order to ensure everyone in our city has safe and stable housing to continue contributing to the strength of our city and its economy, we must go beyond zoning reforms to address all the unrelenting housing pressures that leave New Yorkers struggling to afford finding or staying in homes.”

The City for All proposal calls for increased funding in the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) five-year capital plan to spur affordable housing development and deepen affordability targets, including creating deeper affordability for households below 30 percent of the area median income.

The Council’s demands include requiring affordability in large transit-oriented and town center developments while calling for additional funding for mass transit and the Department of Environmental Protection. This funding would enhance climate resilience and improve roadways, parks, and other open spaces.

The speaker wants funding for HPD’s HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program to support more prospective homebuyers and an increase in funding for HPD’s HomeFix program, which provides financial aid for homeowner repairs.

To preserve affordability, City for All would significantly increase capital funding for repairs in NYCHA’s Section 9 units and for HPD preservation programs, incentivize the return of vacant units, and maintain affordability at Mitchell-Lama developments.

Additionally, the proposal calls for strengthening the CityFHEPS voucher program by expanding access for homeless youth and individuals facing eviction, allowing them to qualify for the vouchers without needing to enter the city’s shelter system.

To protect tenants, City for All would increase funding for the Right to Counsel program, significantly expanding access to legal services that address housing injustices from evictions. It would also restore $25.5 million for the Anti-Harassment Tenant Protection (AHTP) Program to enhance tenant protections.

“New Yorkers across the city are grappling with the impacts of the housing and affordability crisis, which is making it difficult for working-class families to remain in their neighborhoods,” Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala said. “Zoning reform alone cannot meet the full needs of our residents. New Yorkers need a comprehensive set of investments and policies to deliver the housing security we deserve.”

Approved by the City Planning Commission in September, the City of Yes plan is considered to be the mayor’s term-defining project. The proposal aims to address the city’s housing shortage by creating more than 100,000 new homes over the next 15 years through a series of zoning changes.

Proposed changes include allowing three-to-five-story residential developments near public transit, constructing new homes above commercial businesses and on campuses, accessory dwelling units (ADU) like backyard cottages, converting office buildings built before 1990 into homes, legalizing single-room occupancy (SRO) housing, lifting parking mandates, and more.

Other features of the plan include replacing the city’s Voluntary Inclusionary Housing program, the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP), which would allow buildings to be built 20 percent larger if all the additional homes are made permanently affordable.

A final vote on the plan is expected by the end of the year.

RELATED:

• ‘City of Yes’ housing plan approved by City Planning Commission
• Updated Midtown South rezoning plan could create nearly 10,000 new homes
• NYC Council approves East Bronx rezoning that will add 7,000 new homes