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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Logan Phares, Political Director of Open New York
4:20:55
ยท
110 sec
Logan Phares, Political Director of Open New York, testified in favor of the proposed Bronx Metro North rezoning, emphasizing the severe housing shortage in New York City and the need for increased housing supply. The testimony highlighted the benefits of transit-oriented development and the potential positive impact of the rezoning plan.
- New York City is experiencing its tightest housing market in decades, with a rental vacancy rate of 1.4%
- The proposed plan will create 75,100 new homes and 10,000 new jobs in transit-accessible areas
- Open New York encourages the council to pass the current proposal without cuts to density and maintain the elimination of residential parking mandates
Logan Phares
4:20:55
Thank you to your valued members of the sub committee for the opportunity to testify in favor of the proposed bronze bronze metro north rezoning.
4:21:02
My name is Logan Farris, and I serve the political director of Open New York.
4:21:05
Open New York is an independent grassroots pro housing nonprofit.
4:21:09
We have 12 chapters across the state and more than 600 volunteer members.
4:21:13
New York faces a severe housing shortage.
4:21:15
In February, the New York City housing and vacancy survey revealed that the rental vacancy rate had fallen to 1.4%, the lowest point since 1968.
4:21:23
This means that we're experiencing the tightest housing market in decades.
4:21:26
New Yorkers are feeling these pressures.
4:21:28
Evictions have increased, asking rents for unregulated housing have skyrocketed.
4:21:32
And newly issued building permits have plummeted.
4:21:36
In Bronx Community Districts 9, 10, 11, nearly 55% of current residents are rent burdened while nearly 30% are severely rent burdened.
4:21:45
Without a significant increase in the housing supply in this and other areas, the housing crisis for these residents will not end.
4:21:51
We cannot fix the city's housing crisis without building more homes, and every neighborhood must do its part, especially neighborhoods that are benefiting from 1, 000, 000 of dollars in new transit investments.
4:22:00
The city has repeatedly called on suburban communities to allow trans oriented development adjacent to Metro North And Long Island Railroad stations.
4:22:07
We must also do so within our own boundaries.
4:22:10
These proposals will bring exciting new residential and commercial developments to these neighborhoods as we have seen happen in cities and states across the country that have implemented transit oriented development.
4:22:20
We are pleased to see that community feedback from the scoping process is taken into consideration, and the current plan will now include more affordable housing than originally proposed.
4:22:29
As is, the plan will create 75100 much needed new homes and 10, 000 new jobs in your transit.
4:22:35
We encourage the council to pass the current proposal without cuts to the density and to maintain the elimination of residential parking mandates for the new special district.
4:22:43
Thank you for the REACHUTIES ME TODAY.
Kevin C. Riley
4:22:45
Andrew: THANK YOU.