The City’s latest program for increasing housing wants to add 700,000 homes to New York over the next 10 years. That would be like adding all of Philadelphia. It is highly unlikely to happen. But if it did, neighborhoods throughout the City could be drastically different, and the public would have little to say about it. At the least, it could set the stage for massive upzonings.
Why haven’t you heard about this?
You haven’t heard about this because the City dropped the “Fair Housing Growth Strategy Draft Report” in mid-August with little public notice.
The report sets housing targets for each borough and community district. But according to expert analysis, the City appears to have just divided the target roughly equally among the districts. There was no recognition of existing affordable housing or current density, and the report did not fully follow the planning principles required by Local Law 167 of 2023.
The plan envisions a 1,200% increase in the rate of housing growth on the Upper West Side, already one of the densest areas. At the same time, some neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens that were recently rezoned to allow more housing would see lower growth targets.
Preservationists understand the need for new housing. We are also trying to protect existing affordable housing. This draft report needs to be withdrawn and reworked with guidelines the City Council established in Local Law 167 of 2023.
What happens next?
The public comment period ended Friday, September 18. The City plans to release the final report in October. We submitted comments about the plan, which you can read here.
For a detailed look at what this plan would mean for neighborhoods, read these comments from our colleagues at Landmark West, Friends of the Upper East Side, and Village Preservation.
Because the process is moving so quickly, it is uncertain if public feedback will influence the final plan. We will keep you informed as this process moves forward.
The City Council has given up some of its power to influence this plan. But if you are concerned about what it could mean for your neighborhood, contact your City Council Member and let them know what you think.