
Broadway Triangle. Image credit: Google Maps.
Local residents and community activists brought an action to stop a rezoning that would encourage gentrification and racial disparity. Churches United for Fair Housing, along with local residents and other local groups, brought an action against the City in the Supreme Court of New York County to stop the construction of a housing development in the Broadway Triangle section of Brooklyn. Churches United is a local grassroots organization that seeks to preserve communities by advocating for non-exclusive and affordable housing. Churches United claimed that rezoning the area without evaluating segregation would result in discrimination against people of color, and violate the Fair Housing Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. (more…)

NYC HPD
A new comprehensive process will seek to understand and address discrimination, residential segregation, and unequal access to opportunities through studies and community collaboration. On March 9, 2018, the Department of Housing Preservation & Development announced the launch of “Where We Live NYC” in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority. Where We Live NYC is a comprehensive fair housing planning process to study, understand, and address patterns of residential segregation and how these patterns impact New Yorkers’ access to opportunities like jobs, education, safety, public transit, and positive health outcomes. (more…)

Mayor Bill de Blasio. Image Credit: New York City Mayoral Photography Office
New laws focusing on vacant land throughout the City aims at identifying and reporting lots and buildings that could be used for affordable housing. On January 8, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed two bills into laws that focus on how vacant land, both public and private, across the city could be used to further accelerate the production of affordable housing. The new laws will advance the Mayor’s Housing New York 2.0 plan to build 300,000 affordable homes in the City. The new laws will require the City and Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) to conduct a census-like report on vacant property throughout the City. (more…)

The constructed and preserved affordable housing units by borough. Image credit: The Office of Mayor Bill de Blasio
The Mayor’s Administration is ahead of schedule in achieving its goal to build 200,000 affordable homes in 10 years. On July 26, 2016, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an update on the progress that has been made to achieve the goals set forth in his Housing New York plan, which seeks to build 200,000 affordable homes in 10 years. The Housing New York plan met the conclusion of its second fiscal year on June 30, 2016. For CityLand’s previous coverage on the Housing New York plan, click here and here.
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Mayor Bill de Blasio with Trevor Noah on the Daily Show. Image credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
Following Mayor’s appearance on Daily Show, Deputy Mayor Glen calls on release of names of bad hosts. On March 7, 2016, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen requested that Airbnb provide the City with the names and addresses of the hosts illegally using its website. Deputy Mayor Glen’s letter was written in the wake Mayor Bill de Blasio’s March 3rd appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, where he discussed the pros and cons of the “sharing economy,” and months after a report was issued, which proves Airbnb’s ability to identify and eliminate illegal hosts on its site. For CityLand’s past coverage on this report, click here.
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