Features

prospect plaza construction 62015 1

The Past and Future of New York City’s Affordable Housing

As the city edges towards its 2020 population forecast, the Museum of the City of New York is delving into our decades-long struggle to shelter the poorest residents with a new exhibit on the history of affordable housing. To celebrate the exhibit’s opening, the museum hosted a panel Thursday night, where a collection of real estate executives debated whether de Blasio’s ambitious plan to build or preserve 200,000 units would make a dent in the city’s affordable housing crisis.

Read More

Broadway Junction on the border of East New York and Ocean Hill, the first two neighborhoods where the city's new mandatory inclusionary zoning will take effect.

The Loophole in de Blasio’s New Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Policy

On the last day of July, the de Blasio administration quietly introduced a key piece of its plan to build 80,000 affordable units of housing: mandatory inclusionary zoning. The plan will require market-rate developers to set aside at least 25% of their units in each new building as affordable housing. As the city rezones several neighborhoods across the five boroughs, they’ll impose the policy along with the updated zoning—beginning with East New York.

Read More

Workers replace track on the L line in April 2015. Photo by Patrick Cashin via the MTA Flickr

Can Public-Private Partnerships Fill Holes in the MTA’s Budget?

The Citizens Budget Commission released a report earlier this week that predicted the MTA wouldn’t be able to fully repair all 467 of its subway stations until 2067, with suggestions on how the transit authority could finance repairs faster. The group suggested raising money through public-private partnerships, which can be incredibly effective. But when they’re negotiated poorly, these partnerships can cost cities and states millions.

Read More

Summer Ends With Significant August Filing Uptick, 4,020 Units Added to Pipeline

The latest numbers from the DOB show a major increase in year-over-year filings for August, and 2015’s running total has once again surpassed 2014’s, after falling behind in July. In terms of raw numbers, New York City saw new building applications submitted for a total of 4,020 units this past August, more than tripling last year’s figure of 1,281, and putting 2015’s running total of new units at 23,165 as of 8/31, ahead of 2014’s 21,099.

Read More

A view of 481 Midland Avenue from the street, rendering by AB Architekten

Designing a Resilient Home in Staten Island After Hurricane Sandy

When a storm surge slammed into Aimann Youssef’s house on Midland Avenue in Staten Island during Hurricane Sandy, he was devastated. Nearly three years later, the 45-year-old Syrian immigrant is taking steps to rebuild his house at 481 Midland Avenue, even if he can barely afford it. Tribeca-based AB Architekten, headed by Alex Blakely, created a simple, modern design for the two-family home.

Read More

Fetching more...