Mayor Eric Adams secured a significant win as the city council approved a $500 million Bronx redevelopment plan, which includes the addition of 7,000 new residential units in high rises along with four new Metro-North rail stops in different neighborhoods. This approval is seen as a positive indicator for Mayor Adams’ City of Yes housing proposal, which aims to revamp the city’s housing crisis by updating zoning regulations across all five boroughs. Compromises were made with council members regarding infrastructure concerns to push the proposal through.
Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, representing Bronx neighborhoods such as Morris Park and Van Nest, was able to negotiate compromises with the city that addressed concerns about overburdened infrastructure systems in the area. Majority Leader Amanda Farias also played a role in championing the Bronx redevelopment legislation, emphasizing the need for an interconnected network to support the new housing developments. Adams’ office views the Bronx redevelopment project as a potential model for the rest of the city, but Speaker Adrienne Adams refrained from expressing support for the City of Yes housing plan, noting its vast and district-specific nature.
The City of Yes housing plan, estimated to bring over 100,000 new homes to New York City over the next 15 years, focuses on eliminating parking mandates, facilitating office-to-residential conversions, and providing incentives for developers to include affordable housing units in their buildings. While Speaker Adams acknowledges the importance of community engagement in the negotiation process, there has been mixed feedback from community boards regarding the proposal. Promises secured in negotiations for the Bronx redevelopment plan include limitations on the height of new high-rises, reduced number of housing units, and additional parking provisions.
The $500 million spending on the Bronx redevelopment plan is largely allocated towards infrastructure projects aimed at improving parks, streets, sewers, water lines, police stations, and schools in the area. Councilwoman Marmorato, a Republican, views the final proposal as a smart development that meets the housing needs of the district while garnering community support. If approved by the City Planning Commission in September, the City of Yes proposal could potentially go before the Council as early as this fall, though the mayor’s office declined to comment further on the similarities between the two proposals. Overall, the approval of the Bronx redevelopment plan and ongoing negotiations surrounding the City of Yes housing proposal point towards a significant shift in housing policy under Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.
