City Council Members and the Public Advocate at a rally on Nov. 22, 2016. Image Credit: Council Member Stephen Levin.

City Council Members and Citywide Officials formally endorse Home Stability Support legislation. On November 22, 2016, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James and thirty members of the City Council formally endorsed the promulgation of the Home Stability Support program. The announcement was made at an afternoon press conference and rally on the steps of City Hall. The event was co-hosted by the Public Advocate and Council Member Grodenchick, and included speeches by Council Members Crowley, Levin, Gentile, Richards, Reynoso, and Williams. The proposed program has been long championed by State Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi who represents the Forest Hills area of Queens in Albany. (more…)

Plan aims to end McMansion construction. On June 30, 2009, the City Council downzoned 32 blocks of the Cord Meyer-Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens from an R1-2 to an R1-2A district. Aimed at eliminating the construction of oversized single-family homes, often referred to as “McMansions,” the new district sets stricter bulk limits including a 35-foot maximum building height and a 500-foot maximum floor area exemption for parking. The original zoning set no height limit and allowed the exemption of the entire ground floor in exchange for one interior parking space. 6 CityLand 57 (May 15, 2009). (more…)