Mayor Adams Proposes Dramatic Zoning Changes to Boost Housing Construction

Commercial Observer

New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a dramatic slate of residential zoning changes Thursday designed to allow slightly more housing in many neighborhoods citywide in an effort to build 100,000 homes over the next 10 years.

The proposals include eliminating parking mandates for new housing, allowing developers to opt in to zoning bonuses if at least 20 percent of their units are affordable, making office-to-residential conversions easier and more widespread, legalizing accessory dwelling units, and allowing three- to five-story buildings in lower-density parts of the city near subways.

The new zoning would also allow single-room occupancy (SRO) buildings for the first time in 50 years, allowing smaller units and shared kitchens and bathrooms. And it will permit two to four stories of residential development in areas with commercial overlays, which often have rows of single-story retail buildings.

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