Mayor Adams Announces Plan to Streamline NYC Residential Development

By Mindy Cohn

Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that he plans to see 500,000 new homes built in New York City over the next decade. 

The plan would more than double the 200,000 units built during the last ten years. 

The mayor said this is his response to increased housing prices, more homeless, and longer commutes for those seeking affordable housing further out. The new goal is also necessary as the City’s population has increased since 2010 by about 300,000.

One of the ways the mayor hopes to achieve his goal is by removing regulations to exempt smaller projects from needing a costly and time-intensive environmental review. Other steps include filling job vacancies at the Department of City Planning. 

Adams insists his plan will create affordable housing for both middle- and low-income residents. And neighborhoods that have resisted new buildings or blocked affordable housing projects in the past will no longer be allowed to do that.

Thousands of new homes are already planned for the East Bronx and Central Brooklyn, including Parkchester, Van Nest, and Morris Park, which will each have 6,000 new units built by 2027.

Photo Credit: Flickr