The ad warns: “The essentials of your neighborhood are at stake.”
The mailer, paid for by the City Council, states that three of the questions that will appear on the November ballot will take away the power of communities to “require the city and developers to invest” in neighborhoods “when allowed to build.”
City Council leadership has portrayed most of the housing ballot questions as a power grab by the government, arguing that the measures threaten to deprive City Council members of the leverage they need during zoning negotiations to ensure deeper affordability and investment in their communities.
The city council does not want to reveal how much it has spent or plans to spend on its campaign against the measures. The Council’s budget for postage and printing supplies was increased by roughly $2.3 million earlier this year, though that was before the mayor’s Charter Revision Commission had even released a preliminary report outlining potential changes to the city’s land use review process.
Meanwhile, a coalition supporting the measures, Yes on Affordable Housing, has pledged to spend $3 million to promote the housing proposals.
The questions in question, if approved, would mean the following:
— Create two different fast track options for affordable housing projects. Housing Development Fund Companies that build publicly financed, 100 percent affordable housing could seek approval for zoning changes through the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals, rather than going through the full Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.
The other track would apply to affordable housing projects proposed in the 12 community districts that have approved the fewest number of affordable housing units. Starting in October 2026, the city would release a report showing which neighborhoods have allowed the least amount of affordable housing over the past five years. Such projects will go through an abbreviated Ulurp: community boards will have the same amount of time to review these proposals (60 days), but the relevant district president will review the proposal at the same time, rather than for 30 days after the community council review. The City Planning Commission, which will then have 30 days to review instead of 60, will have the final vote on these proposals, not the City Council.
— Create a new land use review process for “modest” housing and infrastructure projects. This new review process, called the Expedited Land Use Review Procedure, or Elurp, would apply to housing projects in medium- and high-density neighborhoods that increase housing capacity by no more than 30 percent, or to housing projects in low-density neighborhoods that do not exceed 45 feet in height and have a maximum floor area ratio of two. Proposals to install solar panels on public buildings or other sites would also be eligible. The City Council could also approve additional project categories, although I wouldn’t rely on that.
Elurp would follow the same timeline as described in the previous question, but depending on the project type, it would skip review by the City Planning Commission or City Council. (Some projects require City Council review under state law.)
— Replace the mayor’s veto with an appeals committee. As it stands, Ulurp ends with the mayor, who generally agrees to whatever action the city council takes (with a few exceptions). This proposal would replace the mayor’s power to veto land use decisions with a three-person appeals committee consisting of the mayor, the City Council president, and the appropriate city president. The appeals committee could overturn the City Council’s rejection of projects that would create affordable housing. Such projects can only affect one municipality. The appeals board may also restore such project proposals to the version approved by the City Planning Commission, reversing the changes approved by the City Council.
While City Council leaders are waging a public campaign against the ballot measures, which have stalled allegations of election fraud that the Council has denied, the Conservatives in the Council are trying to challenge the measures in court. Last week, a Supreme Court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Council’s Common Sense Caucus seeking to overturn the ballot measures. The group, along with other claimants, has appealed the decision.
What we think about: If the ballot measures don’t pass, what will this mean for the next administration’s housing goals? Without these changes, what steps should the next mayor take? Send a message to kathryn@therealdeal.com.
Something we learned: The late Diane Keaton was an avid homemaker and had rented, purchased, renovated or designed nearly 50 homes. according to the New York Times.
Elsewhere in New York…
– City Councilman Keith Powers plans to run for Assemblymember Harvey Epstein’s seat, City and State Reports. Epstein, who represents the East Side of Manhattan, is expected to be elected to the City Council and take over Carlina Rivera’s former seat.
— Gov. Kathy Hochul is considering whether to sign or veto a measure that would allow physician-assisted death for patients with an incurable diagnosis and who have less than six months to live, Gothamist reports. If she signs the bill, New York will become the twelfth state to allow physician-assisted death.
– Billionaire John Catsimatidis believes that Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa should withdraw from the mayoral race, reports the New York Post. “Curtis would be the best mayor of all the candidates … but Curtis needs to realize that he has to love New York more than anything,” Catsimatidis said Monday on WABC radio. “It certainly seems like Curtis will have to withdraw now.”
Closing time
Residential: The highest residential deal recorded on Monday was $14.6 million for Janestraat 83. The West Village mansion is 6,000 square feet. Compass’ The Hudson Advisory Team has the listing.
Commercial: The best recorded commercial deal was $22 million for a commercial apartment at 1035 Third Avenue. The Upper East Side building has a floor area of more than 245,000 square feet and is a mixed-use building.
New on the market: The highest price for a home to hit the market was $14.2 million for a penthouse at 240 Park Avenue South. The Flatiron apartment is 3,900 square feet. Douglas Elliman Michael Graves has the listing.
Groundbreaking: The largest new building permit filed was for a proposed nine-story mixed-use building at 2054 Walton Avenue in the Bronx. Nikolai Katz is the registered applicant.
— Joseph Jungerman
#Daily #Dirt #multifront #battle #housing #ballot #measures