Great thanks to all of you who contacted your State Senator and Assembly Member in opposition to Governor Hochul’s attempt to lift the state cap on the size of residential buildings as part of the State budget. You helped make sure the proposal was eliminated during budget negotiations.
Your opposition bolstered City legislators who have consistently opposed the real estate industry’s desire for ever-larger buildings in our neighborhoods and historic districts.
Thanks especially to Senators Liz Krueger and Brad Hoylman and Assembly Members Richard Gottfried and Linda Rosenthal.
This was the third time lifting the 12 FAR cap was defeated. Mayor DeBlasio tried to sneak it through Albany twice, with little public announcement or explanation. Governor Hochul said lifting the cap would increase affordable housing. But the City’s efforts to allow larger buildings in return for including affordable housing has produced relatively few truly affordable units. There is no guarantee lifting the cap would produce many more. But the supply of “luxury” condos would definitely increase.
This proposal also didn’t belong in the budget. There is a chance it could come back as separate legislation before the end of the Albany session. But, with your help, we’ll defeat it again.