NYC's 'City of Yes' housing proposal scores key endorsement but still faces strong opposition

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has an ambitious plan to revamp housing development across the five boroughs, promising to bring tens of thousands of new affordable units. However, the proposal, currently under public review, has encountered deep scrutiny as more than half of the city's 59 community boards have voted unfavorably and conditionally unfavorably against the measure.

But this week, the plan, titled City of Yes, secured "conditional support" from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, making him the fourth of out five borough presidents to endorse the plan. Staten Island Borough President Vitto Fossella remains unfavorable.

"As the cost of living and the cost of housing rise, countless families across our city are living on the sharp edge of poverty and teetering on the brink of homelessness, all while our homeless shelter population has ballooned to nearly 90,000 individuals — more than 33,000 of whom are children," said Richards in his recommendation letter.

The plan, outlined below, is the Adams' administration proposed solution to the affordable housing crisis in the city, seeking to "build a little bit more housing in every neighborhood."

Richards laid out his conditions for supporting the initiative, instructing collaboration with different city agencies to examine the impact this proposal would have on the boroughs' infrastructure – such as schools' capacity and hospital beds availability, reevaluation of parking mandates in areas with reduced access to public transportation, and legislation that monitors the creation of new basement units.

Similar to other outer boroughs, Queens' County poses a challenge for Adam's citywide zoning reform. Close to 46 percent of Queens' residents are foreign born, and the median income is around $45,009 for women and $51,375 for men. Community Boards across the city with less densely populated areas and limited public transportation services have pushed back on the plan, hoping to negotiate measures that address the unique circumstances of their communities.

"[We are] not against the development of affordable housing," said Frank Taylor, Chairman of Queens Community Board 3. "There are concerns that the rezoning modifications will be done in a cookie-cutter fashion."

For instance, QCB7 rejected parts of the proposal that would loosen zoning restrictions, allowing for landlords "to adapt their houses to adapt to family needs," which they said "could be abused by homeowners."

QCB5 cited "overwhelming opposition" by its members, saying that the plan to legalize "Accessory Dwelling Units," such as back cottages, basement apartments and garage conversions, "pose potentially dangerous conditions."

For decades, affordable housing advocates have sounded the bells around the danger of illegal accessory dwelling units, begging the city to address safety concerns. Just in September 2021, at least 11 people drowned when they were trapped in their basement apartments during a storm, including a 2-year old who died with his parents in Woodside, Queens.

There is not an official record of how many basement and cellar units exist across the city. As of 2021, the Pratt Center for Community Development estimated there were at least 30,395 illegal apartments within just 8 districts, all of which are predominately communities of color.

"Reduced community input places more power in the hands of developers and marginalizes community's influence on neighborhood redevelopment," said Taylor.

Community board and borough president recommendations are only advisory. After reviewed, The City Planning Commission will vote on the plan this September, before going to the City Council for a public hearing and a vote by the end of the year.

"I don't know how to get clearer to New Yorkers. People are homeless," Adams said in a press briefing on Tuesday, as reported by CityLimits. "My responsibility is to place as many people as possible inside a home, because it feeds additional problems."