On July 18, 2024, the City Council introduced legislation (Int. No. 991) that would require hotels to obtain a license in order to operate in New York City. The stated aim of the legislation is to address what is described as...more
On April 23, 2024, the New York State Legislature passed a number of significant measures intended to increase housing production, particularly in New York City. The new measures, which are discussed below, include a new tax...more
The New York State FY 2025 budget legislation enacted on April 20th included an important and long-awaited housing reform for New York City: elimination of the “12 FAR” cap for residential buildings. City officials and...more
Kramer Levin convened a room of real estate heavy hitters for their “The Conversion of Office to Residential: Defining NYC’s Future” event at the Kramer Levin Multimedia Conference Center in NYC on April 9....more
On Jan. 22, 2024, the City Planning Commission commenced the public review process for land use actions surrounding two planned Metro-North Railroad stations in the Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park neighborhoods of the...more
On Monday, Oct. 30, the City Planning Commission (CPC) referred out for public review the proposed zoning text amendment known as “City of Yes for Economic Opportunity.” The proposal — the second in the administration’s...more
On Wednesday, Oct. 11, City Council Member Julie Won and officials of the Adams administration announced the launch of two planning studies for portions of Western Queens.
The first neighborhood study, dubbed “One Long...more
On Thursday, Sept. 21, New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivered an address in which he outlined the administration’s proposal for zoning reforms to increase housing production throughout New York City. The initiative, dubbed...more
Kramer Levin recently hosted a seminar titled “Emerging Issues in Land Use: The Year in Review and What’s Ahead,” where experts discussed New York City planning initiatives and land use trends. Among the speakers were Jessica...more
On Jan. 31, the Manhattan borough president released Housing Manhattanites: A Report on Where and How to Build the Housing We Need.
The Report identifies 171 housing opportunity sites that are currently zoned for...more
On Jan. 9, 2023, the city’s Office Adaptive Reuse Task Force issued its report titled the “New York City Office Adaptive Reuse Study.” The Task Force was established to study the potential for the conversion of vacant office...more
On Dec. 8, Mayor Eric Adams released “Get Stuff Built,” a report on the building and land use approval streamlining task force (BLAST). The task force was convened from more than two dozen city agencies and was charged with...more
Gov. Kathy Hochul this week released a proposed revision to the 421-a “Affordable New York” program, in connection with her FY2023 Executive Budget proposal. The new program would be known as the “Affordable Neighborhoods for...more
On Dec. 15, 2021, the City Council approved the City’s rezoning plan for the SoHo and NoHo neighborhoods. The Council’s action completed the legislative process, thereby turning the plan into law. The stated objectives of the...more
The Department of City Planning’s Open Restaurants zoning text amendment entered public review on June 21, 2021. The text amendment will remove geographic restrictions on where sidewalk cafes can be located within NYC, as...more
The New York City Council on June 17 approved legislation that would mandate a “racial equity report” in connection with many rezonings, special permits and other land use applications submitted on or after June 1, 2022. ...more
Since January 2021, multiple proposals were introduced in the New York State legislature to permit underutilized hotel and/or office buildings, many of which have become financially distressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to...more
6/15/2021
/ Affordable Housing ,
Community Development ,
Construction Project ,
Hotels ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Rental Property ,
State Budgets ,
State Funding ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Vacant Properties ,
Zoning Maps
The Department of City Planning (DCP) has proposed a text amendment to modify regulations relating to gyms, spas, and licensed massage therapy and other health and fitness facilities defined as Physical Culture or Health...more
6/2/2021
/ Commercial Tenants ,
Fitness ,
Massage Therapists ,
Municipalities ,
Permits ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Small Business ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Zoning Maps
The Department of City Planning (DCP) has proposed text amendments to modify and expand the existing Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program under ZR 63-00 for neighborhood grocery stores and supermarkets...more
6/2/2021
/ Commercial Tenants ,
Construction Project ,
Food Supply ,
Grocery Stores ,
Incentives ,
Infrastructure ,
Neighborhood Revitalization ,
Real Estate Development ,
Retailers ,
State and Local Government ,
Underserved Locations ,
Urban Planning & Development
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Department of City Planning have proposed a citywide zoning text change designed to increase transit station accessibility (Zoning for Accessibility). The text was...more
On May 17, the City Planning Commission (CPC) certified the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan (the Plan), which would replace outdated zoning regulations that preclude residences, including affordable housing, and severely restrict...more
On May 3, 2021, the City Planning Commission referred out for public review a zoning text amendment that would require a special permit for the creation or material enlargement of transient hotels (Zoning Use Group 5) and...more
Continuing a trend reported in our Sept. 9, 2020 alert (“Zoning and Land Use: Turning the World Right-Side Up Again”), the Appellate Division for the First Department, which exercises appellate jurisdiction over courts in...more
On March 9, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a series of proposed citywide zoning text amendments intended to incentivize the creation of local grocery stores, boost transit station accessibility, and ease administrative...more
3/12/2021
/ Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Grocery Stores ,
Low-Income Issues ,
New York ,
Real Estate Development ,
Recovery Plans ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Retail Market ,
State and Local Government ,
Tax Incentives ,
Underserved Locations ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Zoning Maps
On Jan. 19, 2021, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo proposed an amendment to Section 277 of the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL) that would “authorize flexibility in zoning to address high commercial vacancy rates and...more
1/26/2021
/ Affordable Housing ,
Community Development ,
Conversion ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Homeless Issues ,
Hotels ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Vacant Properties ,
Zoning Maps