New Yorkers Support Affordable Housing Reform: What Does It Mean?

During the election, New Yorkers supported three propositions—Propositions 2, 3, and 4. All of them are aimed at simplifying and accelerating the construction of affordable housing in the city. The publication explained what these proposals are. Pix11.

According to the Yes on Affordable Housing coalition, more than 50% of renters and approximately 45% of homeowners in New York City spend over 30% of their annual income on housing. The city has long needed affordable housing, but bureaucracy has made its construction too slow.

What will change

Most importantly, the City Council is being partially removed from the process to speed up decision-making. Currently, approving a new construction project requires a lengthy seven-month procedure (ULURP), including discussions, hearings, and votes. Now, two new, faster paths will be introduced.

Offer #2 Creates two alternatives to the standard seven-month ULURP process. While not all city land is subject to ULURP, projects involving rezoning, including affordable housing, are required to undergo public review and approval. The new initiative allows for expedited review of affordable housing applications by the City Planning Commission (CPC) or the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA), eliminating City Council involvement. City-funded projects will now undergo a 90-day review by the BSA instead of seven months, and the CPC is required to review applications from the 12 zoning districts with the least affordable housing within 30-45 days.

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Offer #3 introduces a simplified procedure for small infrastructure projects—roads, parks, networks, etc. It introduces an accelerated land use review procedure (ELURP), which requires a 90-day review of applications by the local community council, the borough president, and the CPC.

Offer #4 The city is creating a new Affordable Housing Appeals Board. Previously, the City Council had the final say, and only the mayor could veto. Now, the new board will be able to overrule City Council decisions. It will include borough presidents, the council speaker, and the mayor himself.

Why all this

Supporters of the initiatives say the new rules will help build housing faster in areas where it's in short supply and make life easier for small developers. Opponents—mostly City Council members—fear that without their input, developers will gain too much power.

Officials such as City Comptroller Brad Lander, Manhattan President Mark Levin, Brooklyn President Antonio Reynoso and Queens President Donovan Richards supported the reform.