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March 2023

The Homes and Community Renewal Connection

Welcoming in 2023

Dear Friends: 

 

The past few months have demonstrated that 2023 is shaping up to be a historic milestone for both HCR and our housing partners across New York.


In January, we took a giant leap forward in our efforts to address the state’s housing crisis when Governor Hochul announced the New York Housing Compact – a bold statewide strategy  to spur the creation of 800,000 homes over the next decade in a way that benefits our climate, accommodates our growing workforce, and expands fair access to housing for all New Yorkers.

 

During my testimony at the Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on the Governor’s 2024 Executive Budget proposal for housing, I had the pleasure of discussing the Housing Compact and how it will be an important tool in our efforts to restore the cycle of housing in New York State – starter homes, larger houses or apartments for growing families, and homes where our parents and grandparents can live safely and independently in their communities.

 

Some important highlights of the Housing Compact are included in this edition of our newsletter, but we have also launched a standalone website dedicated to this important initiative. On the site, you can learn more about how Governor Hochul’s proposal will lead to measured, sustainable growth, put an emphasis on transit-oriented development, and incentivize both new construction and the rehabilitation of existing housing.

 

On March 3rd, I was thrilled Newsday published my guest essay dispelling the myths surrounding the Housing Compact and allowed us to lay out the facts about how it can be adapted to suit each community and deliver the housing New York needs.



We’re excited for what the future holds and believe the creation of this statewide housing strategy complements our current $25 billion, five-year affordable housing plan and forges a new path to unlocking our development potential and building the housing New Yorkers need – regardless of age, income, or phase of life.


The beginning of 2023 has been full of promise and we at HCR could not be more gratified for your continued partnership and support.

 

Sincerely, 

RuthAnne Visnauskas 

Commissioner/CEO New York State Homes and Community Renewal

Housing Compact Highlights

Learn more at:

ny.gov/NYHousingCompact

Sets statewide growth targets for all municipalities to achieve on a three-year cycle: three percent for downstate communities served by the MTA, and one percent for upstate communities. Municipalities will decide how to meet their new home construction target through strategies like rezoning underutilized office parks or malls, creating density in targeted areas, or allowing homeowners more flexibility with their land. Local governments will choose solutions that are best for their communities, with funding and guidance from the State.

 

Focuses on transit-oriented development in localities with rail stations run by the MTA. Encouraging transit-oriented communities creates strong local economies, reduces commute times, and improves public health by encouraging walking and biking and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.


Removes barriers and creates incentives to spur housing investment through regulatory changes and property tax exemptions to encourage mixed income development, including allowing more commercial buildings in New York City to be converted for residential use. The State will provide an initial $250 million fund to help localities meet the demands of new housing construction on local water supplies, sewers, roads, and bridges as well as a separate $20 million planning fund to help local governments map out their plans to increase housing capacity.

Building A Greener New York

HCR welcomes the Office of Resilient Homes and Communities    

 

RHC, formerly the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR), is now a permanent division within HCR, dedicated to helping New Yorkers recover from and avoid property damage caused by natural disasters.

 

Recent RHC News: 


New York State Homes & Community Renewal Announces Completion of Green Infrastructure Upgrades in Nassau County

 

New York State Homes & Community Renewal Announces $2.5 Million Construction Project for Bronx Firehouse

Applications for Climate Friendly Homes Fund Now Open

In February, HCR and the Community Preservation Corporation announced that applications for New York’s new $250 million Climate Friendly Homes Fund are now open. The program is administered by CPC and will make awards to owners of multifamily rental properties to increase energy efficiency and decrease a building's greenhouse gas emissions. The program is expected to assist 10,000 units of multifamily housing in economically disadvantaged communities by 2027.

Strengthening Communities

In January, Governor Hochul announced $390 million has been awarded through bonds and subsidies to create or preserve more than 1,600 affordable, sustainable, and supportive homes across the state. These ten projects are expected to create more than $600 million in overall investment that will assist local economic development efforts and advance New York's commitment to expanding the supply of safe, secure, and healthy housing opportunities for individuals and families across the state.  

Continuing the Fight for Fair Housing

In February, Governor Hochul announced a $2.2 million expansion of New York’s Fair Housing Testing Program designed to root out discrimination in home rental and sale transactions.  

Development Highlights

Northwood Apartments in Plattsburgh


Plattsburgh celebrated the completion of a $24 million affordable housing development called Northwoods, five buildings located at 195 Plaza Boulevard, constructed on a previously vacant 13-acre plot, has 80 new affordable apartments, including 40 with supportive services. 

Mount Aaron Village in East Buffalo



Work is complete on Mount Aaron Village, a new $20.3 million affordable and supportive housing development in East Buffalo.


The development features 59 apartments, including 18 apartments for people who need supportive services to live independently. 

Logan Fountain in East New York


The Governor and Mayor Adams joined to celebrate the groundbreaking for Logan Fountain, a mixed-use project developed under the 2016 East New York rezoning, that will transform a defunct gas station into affordable housing units, transitional housing for homeless families, and new retail space.


This hybrid building will include an affordable and supportive housing component and a family shelter in a 13-story building.   

Vital Brooklyn: Alafia


Construction is underway on the $1.2 billion redevelopment of the former 27-acre Brooklyn Developmental Center property in Brooklyn's East New York neighborhood. The initial $373 million phase will create 576 affordable homes, a new 15,000-square-foot outpatient medical clinic, and 7,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. The entire development, known as Alafia, will ultimately create more than 2,400 affordable homes as part of the State's Vital Brooklyn Initiative that is addressing chronic social, economic, and health disparities in Brooklyn's high-need communities. 

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