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On Monday, November 16, 2015 the Manhattan Borough President’s Office office will conduct a public hearing on two proposed changes to the city zoning code meant to increase the stock of affordable housing in New York City.

“ZQA” is the acronym for the first proposal, “Zoning for Quality and Affordability,” which alters how senior housing is classified and constructed, reduces parking requirements as they relate to the construction of affordable housing, and changes the allowable shape of buildings, including height, when buildings contain affordable housing or senior housing.

Borough President Brewer coordinated a response to the ZQA proposal by virtually all Manhattan elected officials last spring in a letter, and the Administration responded with modifications; both letters are viewable here: bit.ly/ZQALetters

The “Mandatory Inclusionary Housing” (MIH) Program is the second proposal, and it would apply to specific future developments (known as “special permits”) or for neighborhood-wide rezonings (as was recently enacted in Williamsburg by Mayor Bloomberg) which are going to allow for significant new residential development. This program would require developers to provide either 25 percent or 30 percent affordable housing depending on the degree of affordability.

There are good things to be said for these proposals—more affordable housing is obviously crucial—but zoning can be a very blunt tool making changes across all five boroughs. We need to make sure that additional density is added in a manner that truly results in the most affordable housing and the fewest possible adverse consequences to our neighborhoods.

Public input on these proposals counts! Please join us on November 16 at the Clinton School, 10 E. 15th St., from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. If you plan to testify, please RSVP and upload your testimony here and bring six printed copies of your testimony to the hearing on November 16.