A Wholesale Upzoning of all Five Boroughs is a Handout to Developers

An important message from the Historic Districts Council regarding the changes to zoning which the the overwhelming majority of community boards has said no to. Despite widespread opposition, New York City Planning Commission has voted yes to the changes against the will of the people. MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD BY SUBMITTING YOUR TESTIMONY HERE!
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A wholesale upzoning of all five boroughs is a handout to developers.

This is the last step before a vote. Please join HDC in speaking up on Feb. 9 & 10!

Tell City Council that New Yorkers deserve affordable housing without upzoning the entire city. They have the power to make these decisions, but need to hear from YOU.

One Size Does Not Fit All! Stand with New York City’s Communities Against the Mayor’s Plan to Overdevelop Our Neighborhoods

Who: NYC City Council

What: Public Hearing on Zoning for Quality & Affordability (ZQA); Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH)

Where: City Hall, City Hall Park (Manhattan)

When: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 9:30 am (MIH ONLY) & Wednesday, Feb. 10, 9:30 am (ZQA ONLY)

Can’t make the hearing? Send a letter HERE

Earlier this year, HDC testified at the City Planning Commission’s scoping hearing against Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA). Since the spring, City Planning amended ZQA to reduce heights for contextual districts, but this has been the only adjustment. As ZQA and its sibling, Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) were presented before community boards city-wide, where it was disapproved across the boards, including strong opposition from 4 of the 5 Borough Boards. The majority of community boards across the city (including all of the boards in the Bronx) have voted against these proposals DESPITE the Mayor’s promise that they will increase housing affordability.

HDC, alongside partner organizations and hundreds of individuals did not get to testify at the City Planning Commission’s official Public Hearing, as we could not gain access to the building.

Despite the wide opposition, Mayor de Blasio has plans to move full speed ahead. Ignoring the community boards’ votes, he stated: “The folks that are elected by all the people, the council members and the mayor, have to make the final decision.” This is why it is crucial to tell your electeds how you feel on Feb 9th and 10th.

Click here to write Mayor de Blasio and the City Council urging them to listen to NY’s communities and to oppose this plan.

READ THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL’S TESTIMONY  HERE 

Brief examples of major problems with ZQA/MIH:

• Both ZQA & MIH rely on a wholesale upzoning of the entire city, without consideration to borough, neighborhood, side street or wide street;
• Current height limits are not proven to impede developers’ decisions to participate in inclusionary housing, so why raise them if it will still be optional in ZQA?
• There is no study or proposed solution to preserving existing affordable units – upzoning could incentivize demolition of these units;
• Senior housing will be a fraction of larger market rate residential and will not be permanent, but the heights will be;
• There is no provision for existing affordable housing to be preserved; it may be erased by new development;
• Housing will not be affordable to majority of residents of MIH zones, as explored in Comptroller Stringer’s examination of East New York, and;
• There are no requirements for equal access, amenities or finishes in affordable housing (i.e. “poor doors” & “poor floors”).end You

HDC has a new, simpler email advocacy system.  Please take a moment  to quickly fill out the form to click to have your voice heard in the future. It’s just a moment of your time today to make a world of difference in the future of our beloved city.

Historic Districts Council
232 East 11th Street
New York NY 10003 United States
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