A plan to alter zoning for parts of Midtown would permit new housing and make it easier to convert office buildings to residential units.
New York City’s City of Yes zoning reform initiative is taking a step forward with a proposal for Midtown Manhattan that would, according to city officials, make way for nearly 10,000 new housing units.
According to a New York Times article by Mihir Zaveri, the proposal would rezone 42 blocks to allow for residential construction and adaptive reuse in an area struggling to recover after the pandemic. The two councilmembers representing the neighborhood favor the plan. “The four areas affected by the plan include swaths between 35th and 40th Streets south of Bryant Park; between 34th and 41st Streets west of Broadway; and two chunks between 23rd and 31st Streets on either side of Sixth Avenue. There are already a variety of buildings in these zones, including several high-rises that were built before zoning restrictions were put in place in the mid-20th century.”
Zaveri notes that “The Midtown plan is also designed to boost retail in the neighborhood, where vacancies in commercial buildings and less foot traffic have contributed to a feeling of gloom.”
FULL STORY: New York City Seeks Jolt for Midtown With Plan to Build 10,000 Homes
‘City of Yes’ Zoning Reform Gains Planning Commission Approval
The proposal to overhaul New York City’s zoning code, popular with voters, to make housing development easier faces opposition in the City Council.
Will New York ‘City of Yes’ Proposal Make an Impact?
Some housing experts say the rezoning plan is not nearly ambitious enough to make a dent in the city’s housing crisis.
NYC Rezoning Plans Could Create Thousands of New Housing Units
Zoning changes in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Midtown Manhattan would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for light manufacturing.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.
California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.
Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland