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Principles to Guide an Improved Tax Exemption to Secure New Rental Housing: Fostering Affordability and Equitable Development in New York

Skyscrapers construction site for modern buildings in New York. Cranes and scaffolding used to build tall structures, blue sky on background.

This brief explores how the 421-a exemption has affected both the production of multifamily rental apartments and the availability and location of affordable housing in recent years. It then articulates five central principles that can guide discussions about whether the exemption should be renewed and if so, how it should be restructured.