NYC Council Forms New Advisory Group on Housing Affordability to Shape and Inform Major Housing Policies
Aspart of the Council’s proactive land use and housing agenda, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin today announced proposed reforms to the City’s Construction Codes to unlock new housing across the five boroughs. These reforms would be particularly impactful for small lots, where current regulations constrain the feasible design of additional housing. An initial analysis found that through legislative reforms that would create design efficiencies, the potential for up to 35,000 new units of housing could be unlocked on nearly 3,000 small lots across the five boroughs without undergoing burdensome, expensive, and time-consuming zoning changes.
Speaker Menin also announced the creation of a new Council Advisory Group on Housing Affordability, a panel of subject matter experts, advocates, organized labor, and community organizations that will help shape and inform the Council’s proactive policies to confront the housing crisis. The Advisory Group, which includes the expertise of architects, engineers, urban planners and designers, finance professionals, and fair housing advocates, will identify and refine proposals the Council can undertake to build, preserve, and support housing for New Yorkers.
Speaker Menin made the announcement at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York’s 2026 Honors and Awards Luncheon. Her remarks can be found here. Photos from the event can be found here.
“Across the five boroughs, there are thousands of small, underutilized lots that have the potential to deliver tens of thousands of new homes, but outdated rules and unnecessary red tape are standing in the way,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “That’s why we’re taking a proactive approach by convening a first-of-its-kind Advisory Group on Housing Affordability and advancing smart, targeted reforms to our Construction Codes. At a moment when vacancy is at historic lows and rents are at record highs, we have an obligation to act boldly and deliver real results for New Yorkers.”
New York City’s Construction Codes exist to ensure city buildings are safe for its occupants, but it also includes unnecessary regulations and red tape that hinder the development of housing. The Council intends to pursue targeted legislative reforms that maintain safety while spurring the creation of new, appropriately sized residential buildings on small lots between 15- and 27-feet wide.
According to the Council’s analysis, there are approximately 2,850 small lots across New York City that are vacant or underbuilt with non-residential uses. Through targeted reforms, these small lots could be developed as-of-right with housing in buildings up to 8 stories, which are less costly to build and generally rent and sell at lower prices than taller buildings, which cost more to build. Unlocking new housing on small lots would generate new jobs and add tax revenue for the City. It would also transform underutilized, often abandoned and trash-filled lots and revitalize communities throughout the five boroughs with homes that are more accessible to New Yorkers.
New York City is in the midst of a generational housing crisis, with a 1.4 percent housing vacancy rate, the lowest in more than five decades. The median rent in Manhattan remains $5,000 per month as of March 2026, with the number of active listings falling for the 19th consecutive month.
“As Chair of the Committee on Land Use, I see every day how outdated rules and unnecessary barriers limit our ability to build the housing New Yorkers urgently need,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “Speaker Menin’s Small Lots initiative is a smart, targeted approach that unlocks real opportunity by turning underutilized spaces into homes without compromising safety or neighborhood character. The creation of the Council’s Advisory Group on Housing Affordability brings together the expertise, lived experience, and cross-sector leadership we need to shape thoughtful, forward-looking solutions. Together, these efforts reflect a proactive, collaborative path to delivering more housing and a more affordable New York for every generation.”
“New York City is in a deep affordability crisis, and every additional home unlocked matters,” said Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings. “I applaud Speaker Menin for launching this Advisory Group to unlock more housing across the city, including on small lots that have long gone underutilized. This effort will bring experts together in a new format to allow NYC to consider legislative reforms and design efficiencies that maintain safety while expanding opportunities to build.”
No comments:
Post a Comment