Three Years of New York's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Program

One of the more aggressive inclusionary zoning programs in the country has been in place long enough to evaluate for lessons regarding the effectiveness of the controversial affordable housing development tool.

1 minute read

September 30, 2019, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New York Construction

Ryan DeBerardinis / Shutterstock

Michael A. Tortorici, co-founder and executive vice president at Ariel Property Advisors, checks in with the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program three years after its inception under the de Blasio administration, with effects beginning to take shape around the city.

"Looking at MIH projects in the pipeline and recent transactions in current or pending MIH areas, it’s becoming increasingly clear where the program is currently delivering, and where it may be falling short," according to Tortorici.

Here are the key findings of the analysis presented in the article:

As of August 15, 2019, city records show approximately 40 new developments underway that will see at least 25 percent of residential floor area allocated to permanent affordable housing. Based on available information, we estimate these projects total approximately 7.3 million square feet of new construction. In terms of gross area being built, approximately 53 percent is under construction in the Bronx, 19 percent is in Brooklyn, 12 percent is in Northern Manhattan, 10 percent is in Queens, and 6 percent is in Manhattan.

While breaking down the development pipeline of the neighborhoods and boroughs around New York in greater detail, Tortorici also presents some conclusions based on the evidence provided by the development market.

Monday, September 23, 2019 in Commercial Observer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9 - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation