What Actually Got Built Under Eric Adams’ ‘Pro-Housing’ Administration

Outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams claims his administration “created, preserved, or planned” over 400,000 new homes, writes Christopher Bonanos in Curbed. What actually got built? 

According to Bonanos, “the short answer is: Less than you’d hope, but more than you might think.”

Bonanos outlines the administration’s successes in trash containerization and reform around scaffolding, but says it fell short when it came to streetscape building and road safety interventions. The new rules on outdoor dining setups practically decimated the successful pandemic-era program. 

As far as housing, “The actual number of homes produced in these years via the Department of Housing Preservation and Development is, per City Hall, nearly 86,000 — certainly not nothing, especially if you are one of those 86,000 families.” And while City of Yes legalized ADUs, just 98 of them are currently under construction. 

Bonanos points out that it’s difficult for any mayor to get much housing built in one term, so the true impact of City of Yes will likely be visible several years down the line.