Politico New York reports all the important details on a big day for planning in New York City—as the City Council overwhelmingly approved two controversial zoning changes to help spur the construction of affordable housing.
"After months of opposition throughout the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to require below-market-rate housing when developers get city-issued rezonings won a decisive victory in the City Council on Tuesday," report Sally Goldenberg and Gloria Pazmino.
The article describes the totality of the legislative victory for mayor de Blasio:
Paired with a proposal to overhaul the city’s 55-year-old zoning code, the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing plan passed by a vote of 42-5 and will take effect in the coming days. Zoning for Quality and Affordability, which enables more residential development, passed 40-6 with one abstention.
The article includes the technical details of the approved ordinances, as well as the political coalitions on either sides of the issue. Goldenberg and Pazmino note that the city's planning staff tempered the rhetoric of politicians supporting he ordinances. After paraphrasing one councilmember, who described the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing ordinance as "historic and legacy-building," the reporters cite numbers generated by the Department of City Planning, which "projected it would be responsible for the creation of 12,000 low- to moderate-income apartments —15 percent of the 80,000 the mayor hopes to create by 2024."
Planetizen has covered these issues since Mayor de Blasio announced the ordinances in September 2015, as journalists vetted the proposals, as neighborhood boards rallied in opposition to the proposed zoning changes, and as the de Blasio Administration made the final push for approval.
FULL STORY: Council overwhelmingly approves de Blasio’s plan to rezone the city
Damage Control for New York's Big Zoning Proposals
One of the nation's most ambitious efforts to upzone neighborhoods in the hope of spurring more market rate and affordable housing supply is up for debate in New York City. A lot of people don't like the plan.
Explained: East New York's Big Zoning Changes
Some residents of East New York argue that mandatory inclusionary zoning and other changes proposed for the neighborhood will only help displace low-income residents.
Rezoning Coming to East Harlem
New York City has commenced a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) in the neighborhood of East Harlem. This would be the second rezoning toward Mayor de Blasio's goal for 15 rezonings.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service