City of Yes for Housing Opportunity: Analyzing Its Impact on New York City

For years, New Yorkers have been experiencing a growing housing and affordability crisis. Antiquated and unnecessary zoning laws limit opportunities to build housing and make projects that are built more expensive. The pervasive nature of the housing crisis demands citywide action with every neighborhood chipping in to help New York tackle this crisis head on and build housing of all types to meet New Yorkers' needs. The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning text amendment proposal targets the housing crisis by making incremental changes to enable a little more housing in every neighborhood throughout the city.  

This program will explain the nuances of the City of Yes proposal from a technical perspective and analyze its impact on New York City. Panels will consist of advocates, architects, developers, zoning experts, government officials, and community members to discuss the ins and outs of the proposal and why it’s critical for the city to pass the zoning amendment. 

An initial presentation from Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick will overview the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal. Panel One will discuss the proposal from a technical perspective, diving into the new tools the changes will provide compared to the current zoning, why these changes matter, and how they will impact New York City. This panel will also share visualizations of how certain proposals will look in a neighborhood specific context. Panel Two will focus on the benefits of the proposal and how it will help tackle the city’s housing and affordability crisis. This panel will be an opportunity to address common misconceptions about the proposal and concerns brought up by Community Boards, Borough Presidents, and Borough Boards. Each presentation and panel will be followed by Q&A.  

Schedule:
8:30 AM - Arrival and Coffee
8:45 AM - Introductions
9:00 AM - Keynote: Overview of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity
9:30 AM - Panel 1: Technical Review on Zoning Changes
10:30 AM - Panel 2: Potential Impact on NYC's Affordable Housing Crisis