Local lawmakers are examining the mayor’s ambitious housing proposal, known as the “City of Yes,” aimed at significantly increasing housing stock across all five boroughs over the next 15 years. 

What You Need To Know

  • The City Council held a six-hour hearing on Monday, questioning housing officials over the mayor's "City of Yes" housing plan 

  • The plan aims to change antiquated zoning codes to allow for more housing in commercial districts, multi-family districts and even in people's backyards

  • But critics say the plan would destroy the character of their neighborhoods and put pressure on infrastructure that is already crumbling

“Yes, we are in a housing crisis. Yes, we need more housing but how we build more housing must be responsive to the needs of our diverse neighborhoods. Just because two neighborhoods share the same zoning, it does not mean they are the same," City Councilman Rafael Salamanca said in his opening statement during a hearing on housing Monday morning. 

The multi-pronged plan hinges on changing antiquated zoning codes that would allow housing units to be built in commercial zones, in multi-family districts and in backyards among other areas.  

“This is the most pro-housing policy in the history of New York City zoning. We’ve never attempted to do something like this. It’s the first time that a Merrill administration is taking action to create new housing in every neighborhood from the lowest density to the highest density,” Dan Garodnick, director of the Department of City Planning, said.

But the plan is facing serious opposition.

Council members and local residents say the massive plan lacks community input and doesn’t address district specific issues. 

“Focusing on the infrastructure issue, can you please specify how the administration will address the flooding that has been a real impact on my residents within my community?” City Councilmember Kevin Riley said. 

“When we look at transit related development which is great, in my district it only covers 3% of my district but leaves out 75% of the borough,” City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks said.

“We don't want so many studios and one bedrooms. We want family size apartments. How does this plan help us get there?" City Councilmember Gale Brewer said. 

City officials pushed back on some of the complaints Monday. 

“We studied the potential impacts of this proposal and found a narrow set of areas where we believed there would be an impact. Questions about water and sewer infrastructure were not among them," Garodnick said.

“Now, this does not mean to say that problems that exist in neighborhoods are either fixed or hurt by this proposal but it just means that the city needs to continue to focus on known problems,” he continued.

Garodnick, at one point during a heated part of the hearing, reminded officials that the plan depends on everyone doing their part. 

“Your district needs to be part of the housing solution in New York City. You cannot opt out. You cannot just say no. These are real issues and also your district has to be part of the solution," he said.

Meanwhile some residents say the plan would destroy their neighborhoods.

On Tuesday, the City Council will hold a hearing that will allow the public to weigh in on the plan.