New York’s housing shortage is well documented. But what, specifically, is keeping the state from building the homes it needs, and what can policymakers do to change it?
Join Regional Plan Association and the Mercatus Center for a timely virtual discussion on how Albany can make it easier, faster, and more predictable to build housing. RPA will present updated research examining where housing production is and isn’t occurring across the region and what decades of residential permitting data reveal about the policy choices shaping growth. Mercatus Center Senior Research Fellow Salim Furth and BFJ Planning Senior Associate Silvia Del Fava will share findings from their recent policy brief examining New York’s permitting and approval processes and opportunities to reduce unnecessary delays, duplication, and uncertainty.
Together, the presentations will move from what the data tells us about New York’s housing production challenges to practical reforms that could help unlock more homes. The presentations will be followed by a moderated discussion amongst the authors and an open Q&A with attendees.
Silvia Del Fava, AICP, LEED AP ND, is a senior associate at BFJ Planning. She supports municipalities and state agencies across New York on planning, zoning, and environmental review projects. Before joining BFJ, Del Fava was a fellow at Pratt Center for Community Development and worked for New York City agencies, a planning firm, and an architecture practice. She holds a BA in urban studies and planning and geography from the University at Albany and an MS in sustainable environmental systems from Pratt Institute.
Salim Furth is a Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Urbanity project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. His research focuses on housing production and land use regulation. He frequently advises local governments and testifies before state and federal legislatures. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Rochester.
Furth previously worked at the Heritage Foundation, at Amherst College, and as a contractor to HUD. His research has been published in Housing Policy Debate, Critical Housing Analysis, and the IZA Journal of Labor Policy. He serves as an advisor to the board of Texans for Reasonable Solutions and a Better Cities Project Fellow.
Moses Gates is RPA’s Vice President for Housing and Neighborhood Planning, leading the organization’s planning, research and advocacy efforts in affordable housing, economic development, and urban design. He also leads RPA’s efforts to build international partnerships. Read more about Moses’ work at RPA.
Maulin Mehta is RPA’s New York Director and is responsible for leading RPA’s research, planning and advocacy activities in the state. His work includes researching and building support for a broad range of projects and campaigns to improve equity in land-use, transportation and health in our region. Read more about Maulin’s work at RPA.
Marcel Negret is the Director of Land Use at Regional Plan Association. He oversees long-term research projects on housing, economic development, climate resiliency, and land use. He combines systemic thinking with design, spatial analysis, and data visualization to support the organization’s planning and advocacy efforts at both the regional and neighborhood levels. Read more about Marcel’s work at RPA.
