NYU Furman Center's Executive Director Delivers Testimony on Intros 1433, 1437, and 1443

The NYU Furman Center provides independent data and analysis to support policymakers in understanding housing needs and evaluating the likely effects of proposed policies.

The three bills before the New York City Council Committee on Land Use address important goals related to the needs of New Yorkers: (1) Intro. 1433 establishes citywide minimum shares of two- and three-bedroom units in City-assisted projects to reflect the needs of larger households; (2) Intro. 1437 sets a maximum citywide share of studio units in senior housing that receives City financial assistance; and (3) Intro. 1443 requires citywide minimum shares of units that serve extremely low-income and very low-income households in City-assisted rental projects.

Our research highlights that these three proposals involve important tradeoffs that must be considered in any comprehensive analysis. Serving larger households, serving households with very low incomes, and responding to the housing needs of older adults are all priorities that require careful planning at both the citywide and neighborhood levels. Each requirement would influence how many homes can be produced with available public financing resources and how those homes can be located in a range of neighborhoods. A more thorough understanding of these tradeoffs would provide a stronger foundation for implementation.