Name: Static Interactive
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New York City has a housing crisis. Homelessness has almost doubled in the last 10 years. Overcrowding rose 20% in the six years between 2008 and 2012, and more than 30% of renters pay more their half of their income in rents. And without real action it will only get worse. RPA forecasts show that New York City has the potential to add a million people by 2040. Without the ability to build more housing, Manhattan and other inner core areas will continue to become more and more expensive, increasing already enormous pressures on existing affordable and rent stabilized housing, pressure that has a ripple effect on the rest of New York City and the region as a whole.

Building more housing is important, but equally important is making sure we build in a smart and equitable way. This means building more housing in neighborhoods that already have the infrastructure to support it. This means encouraging the development of more affordable housing in neighborhoods of all income levels. And this means continuing to ensure that residents have a voice in new development in their neighborhoods, including on good design and neighborhood improvements.

Repealing this law is a necessary first step in enabling highrise neighborhoods in Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn, and Long Island City to add mixed-income housing subject to the City’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Law. But it is important to note that repealing the law does not mean that these developments will just sprout up all over. There are important controls that exist that will continue to ensure that residents have a say in what kind of development is allowed in their community – and in many cases allow them to shape better buildings than are currently permitted.

Neighborhoods would still have to pass comprehensive rezonings subject to the City’s Uniform Land Use Review Process and approval by City Council. And as part of these rezonings, other neighborhood concerns about new development, such as height, design, and street-level uses would also be addressed to ensure that new buildings meet these needs and enhance the visual and pedestrian experience of their neighborhoods.