CM Epstein questions on ADU and basement legalization pipeline

Chair, if I can just get another quick minute.

I just want to talk to you about the ADUs.

I know you mentioned how many ADUs have been developed now over the last year.

Do you think we need to go back to Albany to either expand?

Expand the pilot project or to extend the timeline of the pilot?

Yeah, so I just want to make a distinction between ADUs and the basement legalization, which is the pilot.

The Plus One program, which is the ADU program, is actually starting to really, I think, gain momentum.

challenging because the pre-development work that goes into designing the ADU, determining if there's enough space for a standalone unit, or whether it needs to be a conversion of an existing structure, takes time and actually resources and you need an architect, right?

So it's not really about code, it's just about

limited space.

We have about 27 ADU applicants in the pipeline right now moving forward and another 17 right behind them that we expect to enter the pipeline shortly.

We would like to keep moving that and again I think it's a question of making sure we have the right supports through our nonprofit partners for the pre, I would almost call it the pre-pre-development phase of the ADU development.

I'm just wondering, one is, do you think that the strict kind of structures, not allowing more products to go forward, is there something we need to be doing differently on the state level to increase the flow of basements and ADUs?

Yeah.

I mean, to be honest, I ran the ADU program for the state, and we found this to be challenging everywhere, including places where land is not so constrained or space, right?

So I think it's just a challenging thing in a very dense place like New York City.

That said, the amount of interest is overwhelming.

It's really exciting.

And the fact that we now have resources with which to finance that, along with the state resources, I think it's really not a legislative solution.

I think we need to just keep pushing hard on the front end for that pre-development phase.

More broadly under the local law.

27 piece, we actually have about 261 applications in.

Almost half, 48% or 126, are for basement and cellar conversion.

So we're seeing, to the commissioner's point, because of the constraint of land, we're really seeing attic, basement, cellar as being a main place where people are looking to deploy this opportunity.

And thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

I just want to shout out the ADU4U tool.

It's really nice looking at it last night.

Did not work for my address, so I will be following up with you, Commissioner.

I do want to know if I can have an ADU in my basement.

Couldn't see that last night.

But just since you mentioned the existing building code, Commissioner Tagani, you know, the kind of, that kind of guidance that the city is providing through ADU for you would be beautiful to see, you know, especially for small homeowners who, you know.

Experience the city as a Byzantine regulator, it would be really helpful to, you know, if we can adapt that kind of guidance for small homes.

Absolutely.

So we've got a dedicated website.

We actually have a monthly newsletter.

Deputy Commissioner Sirakis has a crossword puzzle that he includes for those who want a game to understand more about the existing building code.

We've been signing up and doing seminars, webinars with different industry partners, and we'll continue to build out the website and those tools.

We also...

have implemented in our monthly industry meetings and our open webinar, our monthly online meetings with property owners and license reps.

So always open to do more, and especially if you want to convene property owners, we'd love to work with the council on that as well.

We're very focused on getting the word out about this.

Great, excellent.

Thank you.

I'm going to turn it over now to Councilmember Caban, followed by Riley, and then Joseph.