The change could spur more housing development if accompanying reforms in the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity plan are approved.

A reform included in New York State’s FY 2025 budget eliminates a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) cap for residential buildings that housing advocates say hamstrings residential construction in the city. The change relies on the proposed creation of new zoning districts in Mayor Eric Adams’ City of Yes for Housing Opportunity plan.
An explainer on the Kramer Levin website describes the change, which removes a 12 FAR cap on residential buildings in proposed new zoning districts and “Where the City’s zoning districts mandate a minimum affordability percentage that is equivalent to or exceeds its Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program.”
According to the article, City of Yes would create two new types of residential zoning districts that would permit FARs of 15 and 18. “The regulations for these districts would be added to the Zoning Resolution, but they would not exist anywhere in the City until they become available for use in an area either through further changes to the zoning text or through a subsequent zoning map amendment, both of which would require compliance with MIH.”
FULL STORY: State Budget Approves Elimination Of 12 FAR Cap In New York City

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
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