‘City Of Yes’ Housing Plan Moves Forward

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council have agreed to a deal on the "City of Yes," a major zoning proposal that would spur more housing construction throughout the five boroughs.

The initial "City of Yes" plan aimed at creating more than 100,000 new homes over the next 15 years, easing the city’s housing crisis. But new changes to the proposal lowered that number to 80,000, according to multiple media reports.

The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted 4 to 3 in favor of the revised proposal, while the Land Use Committee voted 8-to-2 with one abstention.

The City Planning Commission is now expected to review the updated proposal, then the full City Council will vote on it next month.

As part of the last-minute deal, Adams is expected to commit $5 billion in city funding. Those funds will go to sewers, streets and open spaces, along with additional staffing at housing agencies, according to a Gothamist report. The money will also subsidize affordable housing construction and preservation.

In addition, Gov. Kathy Hochul has committed $1 billion to help the city fund the investments contained in the agreement, after the Adams administration asked for her help, according to the report.

Hochul will include the funding in her state budget proposal in January.

The tentative agreement would legalize small accessory dwelling units in backyards and garages in much of the city, according to a Crain's New York report.

Accessory dwelling units will no longer be allowed in a number of low-density districts in the outer boroughs.

A mandate that require parking spaces to be included in new developments would have been eliminated citywide in the initial proposal has now been preserved in some parts of the city, according to the report.

A number of other changes have been floated around, but official details have not been released.

This is a developing story. This post will be updated.