Brendan Cheney of New York Housing Conference testifies on housing supply
He says recent changes are steps in right direction but more needed; supports neighborhood rezonings, micro plans, and transit-oriented development.
Good afternoon.
My name is Brendan Cheney.
I'm Director of Policy and Operations at the New York Housing Conference.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
I've submitted our full testimony in writing.
I will summarize in the interest of time.
As we've heard today, throughout the hearing, New York City is facing an ongoing housing crisis.
Recent changes to increase housing supply are steps in the right direction, but we need to do more.
The city of yes, zoning changes, last year's ballot changes will all generate additional housing in neighborhoods across the city.
But these two efforts alone will not allow us to add all the housing we need to address the crisis.
In the fair housing growth strategy, the mayor projected the city needs an additional 700,000 units over the next 10 years, including 200,000 units of new affordable housing.
There are massive unmet housing needs in every neighborhood across the city.
There's not enough opportunities for homeownership or rental housing.
Young adults starting out, families with children, older adults, all don't have enough housing choice, facing limited options and high costs.
No community board is immune from this.
Housing affordability is a problem at every income level.
We will not see the housing growth we need in all neighborhoods without further changes.
And this is why we support the zoning changes and planning proposals in block by block.
Further neighborhood rezonings, including micro plans, are necessary to expand development across the city.
Neighborhood rezonings are a powerful way to add housing supply in a way that meets neighborhood needs.
Adding transit-oriented...
to development to more neighborhoods is also necessary.
The program passed as part of the city of yes will be helpful, but it can go further.
We look forward to working with the administration, the city council to support further changes and to support affordable housing and housing growth throughout the city.
I'm happy to answer any questions.
Thank you.