PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Emily Klein, AVP for Policy and Government Affairs at Community Preservation Corporation
3:47:21
·
125 sec
Emily Klein, representing the Community Preservation Corporation, testified in support of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal. She emphasized that the zoning reforms would enable more housing construction across the city without drastically altering neighborhood character.
- Klein argued that the changes would be small and targeted, such as adding 2-4 stories above existing commercial spaces in low-density areas or allowing 3-5 story apartments near transit.
- She highlighted the Universal Affordability Preference, which would allow 20% more units if they are permanently affordable.
- CPC urged the subcommittee to support these reforms, viewing them as a chance to modernize regulations and address the housing shortage.
Emily Klein
3:47:21
Good afternoon.
3:47:22
Thank you, Chair Riley and members of the committee.
3:47:24
My name is Emily Klein, and I am the AVP for Policy And Government Affairs as the Community Preservation Corporation, a fifty year old nonprofit affordable housing lender with a significant footprint in New York City.
3:47:36
CPC is honored to provide testimony today in support of city of yes for housing opportunity and to urge the sub committee to support These critical zoning are forms.
3:47:45
CityBS would update the city's zoning code to meet our current housing needs and promote more equitable neighborhoods across our city by enabling the construction of a little bit more housing in every neighborhood.
3:47:56
These reforms can create the overall amount of housing the city needs without necessitating dramatic changes in anyone neighborhood.
3:48:03
A common criticism that we've heard of the proposed changes is that they would radically alter the fabric and character of our existing neighborhoods.
3:48:09
It's important to stress that the proposals of city of yes for housing opportunity were crafted specifically to do just the opposite.
3:48:17
Yes, these proposals would enable specific and targeted changes and what type of development is permitted in each neighborhood, but these changes are small by design.
3:48:26
In low density neighborhood, this would look like adding 2 to 4 stories of housing above existing ground floor commercial and town centers, or 3 to 5 story apartment buildings within a half mile of transit stations, where 1 to 3 story development is already common.
3:48:40
In medium and high density districts, city of yes would introduce universal affordability preference, which would allow buildings to add 20% more units if permanently affordable.
3:48:49
For example, a 40 unit building in a medium density district, this would mean adding 8 more units and likely going from 8 stories to 10 stories, a change of scale well within the existing neighborhood character.
3:49:01
These common sense forms fit existing neighborhood conditions and specifically avoid changes that would bring out and scale development to New York City Neighborhoods.
3:49:09
City of Jasper Housing Opportunity offers a once in a generation chance to modernize our regulations, comprehensively address our housing shortage, and build a city that meets all of its residents' needs.
3:49:19
On behalf of CDC, we applaud the Department of City Planning and support this reform and urge the sub committee to support it.
3:49:25
Thank you.
Kevin C. Riley
3:49:26
Thank you.
