The city is taking a first step toward converting unused commercial space into housing.
On Wednesday, the City Council’s Committee on Land Use held a hearing to get feedback from experts and stakeholders on proposed changes meant to streamline regulations, and make the process easier.
They include financial incentives for companies willing to step up and reimagine eligible office buildings.
It’s part of a plan by Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul to address the city’s housing and real estate crisis in a post-pandemic New York. They call it the Making New York Work for Everyone Action Plan.
“That plan seeks to imagine our central business districts, especially in Manhattan, which has been hit hardest by changing work patterns, by optimizing the mix and use of space to minimize vacancy,” Dan Garodnick, chair of the City Planning Commission, said during Wednesday’s hearing.
Among their proposals, Adams and Hochul want to create mixed-use neighborhoods in the city’s business districts, in part, by converting commercial buildings into residential housing.
They hope it remedies issues such as a lack of housing stock, affordable housing, a slew of vacant commercial space amid a rise in remote work, and a loss of tax revenue.
“City agencies have been thoughtfully considering opportunities for conversion,” Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr. said. “And we’ve asked them to join us here to discuss their findings.”
There are a number of hurdles to get over for the mayor’s and governor’s plan to work.
They include zoning laws that restrict development in many communities as well as questions about whether communities have the infrastructure to support a population increase that new housing would bring.
“Does the administration strategize to ensure that the significant amount of office conversion to much needed housing will require such amenities such as schools and libraries to accommodate these new households?” said Councilmember Kevin C. Riley.
There is also the question of how to make sure a fair amount of affordable housing is included in the development rather than primarily condos.
“I need to see our lowest income communities in all of these proposals and I hope the administration will join in pushing the state to change these considerations,” said Councilmember Pierina Sanchez.
Adams’ plan includes converting underused offices into 20,000 new homes for 40,000 New Yorkers over the next decade. That would hinge, in large part, on controversial proposals to make zoning laws more flexible. The idea has gotten push back in less congested areas of the city as well as communities of color.