NYC Preps to Scrap East Harlem Parking Minimums

In a victory for New York's transit advocates (and developers), the city will likely remove rules requiring a certain number of parking spaces per building in East Harlem. In an area relatively well-served by transit, the minimums can clog up street space and lead to the construction of large parking lots where buildings could be.

From this Streetsblog NYC article: "New York City's minimum parking requirements drive up the cost of housing by requiring developers to build parking spots that otherwise wouldn't get built. This adds to construction costs and constrains the supply of new housing."

The rule change stems from City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito's "East Harlem Neighborhood Plan," released earlier this year. The plan also calls for upzoning to accommodate affordable housing and space for jobs. 

A spokesperson for the Department of City Planning commented, "The elimination of parking requirements is a part of our growth-oriented approach to the neighborhood study, so we are applying it in areas we are targeting for new transit-oriented development."