NYC Mayoral Candidate Proposes Ambitious Housing Plan to Convert Dormant Hotels

Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, "unveiled a plan that would rehabilitate and convert 25,000 derelict hotel rooms into permanent supportive and affordable housing," reports David Cruz.

The proposal was met with support from housing advocates and elected officials, according to Cruz. "The plan would also fill a need for a reeling hotel industry whose supply of room outnumbers demand, particularly during the pandemic."

According to the article, the proposal faces numerous obstacles to speedy, efficient delivery, namely in the multiple dwelling laws written at the state level, "which mandate the size of apartment units that include bathrooms and kitchens," according to Cruz.

"The city can't circumvent the state's multiple dwelling law—unless the legislature makes changes—which means any nonprofit that seeks to purchase a hotel is required to carve out adequate space for a kitchen. Some of those hotels can be transformed since several were initially built as residential apartment buildings."

Zoning also presents an obstacle. Under the city's current zoning, "hotels in manufacturing districts that are converted to housing must be changed to a residential zone. And those changes would undergo a public review process that could last take six months to a year," explains Cruz.