A new report explores the untapped housing opportunities for the region around New York City, and suggests planning tools for adding hundreds of thousands of housing units without building hundreds of thousands of new buildings.
A new report from the Regional Plan Association charts a path for the region, encompassing New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, to hundreds of thousands of new homes by allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and the construction of two- or three-family homes (i.e., duplexes and triplexes).
The "Be my Neighbor" report offers key recommendations, explains ADUs, addresses the segregation effects of traditional zoning, and attempts to overcome misconceptions about density in residential neighborhoods.
Key recommendations for the entire region include statewide policies to make it easier to build ADUs and do conversions, including by implementing zoning changes, easing parking requirements, and providing technical assistance to property owners interested in adding units. For New York City's specific situation, the report recommends specific zoning changes, discouraging multi-family conversions, expanding the city's basement apartment program, and rethinking off-street parking requirements for duplexes and triplexes.
Read the full story: Be my Neighbor
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