Stakeholders, such as the New York City Council, housing activists and developers are at odds regarding s new proposal allowing land rezoning after compliance with mandated regular housing. According to a report from capitalnewyork.com, the DeBlasio proposal was receiving lukewarm reception.
There is a need for a majority approval of the measure in order to pass the City council level. While publicly many solons spoke favorably of the plan, others have expressed some concerns and were hesitant in criticizing the policy.
On the other hand, developers were cool to the measure, as this group focused on the possible reformation of a development tax break known simply as 421-a. Other sectors, such as advocates of affordable housing, have a bit of optimism on what is termed as 'mandatory exclusionary zoning' but have beef on some parts of the law that is insufficient for downtrodden New Yorkers.
According to an email sent by Councilor Jimmy Van Bramer, "Affordable housing is a necessity for New Yorkers in every part of the city. Over 90,000 people signed up for the first phase of the affordable housing in Hunters Point South in Long Island City. There, as with this proposal, those with a wide variety of income levels will be included."
The plan for affordable housing was first unveiled by Mayor Bill De Blasio through a rezoning policy. The plan, as reported on realtytoday.com,included a requirement from developers to put up a specific number of affordable housing units in each of their projects. The said units would be available for individuals with budgets in the low to moderate levels.
In unveiling the policy, the Mayor of New York said that this would be 'mandatory and permanent.' Furthermore, he added "These are hard, new requirements that for the very first time set a floor for the affordable housing communities are owed in new development. We look forward to working with neighborhoods, elected officials and the Council to enact the strongest affordable housing requirements in the nation."
