A 'Housing New York' Report Card

The de Blasio Administration set lofty goals for the creation and preservation of housing in New York. So how's that going?

1 minute read

July 27, 2016, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Construction

Nick Starichenko / Shutterstock

Sally Goldenberg reports: "The de Blasio administration closed financing on more than 23,000 below-market-rate homes in the past fiscal year, an effort helped by the preservation of Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan and the frenzied pace of development as a lucrative tax break was set to expire in Albany."

"City Hall has so far financed 52,936 units of low- to moderate-income housing since de Blasio took office….That is enough housing for 130,000 New Yorkers," adds Goldenberg.

The de Blasio Administration announced the Housing New York program in May 2014, setting a goal to build 80,000 new apartments for low- and middle-income tenants while preserving 120,000 existing units fitting the same description. As Goldenberg notes, however, the strides made toward that goal so far are threatened by the expiration of the 421-a tax abatement.

Goldenberg also describes another key mechanism in the city's efforts to reach the Housing New York goals: the Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning policy, which, approved in March, is intended to create 12,000 apartments over the next ten years.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016 in Politico

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

June 15 - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

June 15 - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

June 15 - The Washington Post