REMARKS
Challenges with previous basement conversion program and benefits of new ADU legislation
0:25:59
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4 min
Kim Darga explains the challenges faced with the previous basement apartment conversion program and highlights the benefits of the new proposed ADU legislation. She emphasizes how the new approach addresses past limitations and aims to make the process easier for homeowners.
- Previous program in Brooklyn's Community Board 5 faced zoning limitations and financial complexity
- New legislation provides clear zoning regulations and code requirements for ADUs and basements
- HPD is creating a resource library and step-by-step process guide for homeowners
- Pre-approved plans will be available to expedite the process and reduce costs
- The Plus One ADU program, launched last year, received significant interest from homeowners
- ADUs can improve homeowners' financial security and ability to address family housing needs
Kim Darga
0:25:59
Great.
0:25:59
So, right now, I'm gonna speak a little bit, take a step back.
0:26:06
So, I've been at HPD for some time now, and I was at the city when we were looking at how to create the basement apartment conversion program that the public advocate, just referenced.
0:26:22
And at that time, we did work with city council very closely to look at code changes, to address, the needs, around legalizing a basement or cellar apartment.
0:26:36
So public advocate said, we reached out to thousands of property owners and community board 5 Brooklyn where it was authorized, and we actually heard from many homeowners that they were interested.
0:26:49
At the end of the day, because of zoning limitations as well as financial limitations and complexity, very few homeowners actually proceeded with that program.
0:27:02
So there are some really substantial benefits to what the city is, proposing now.
0:27:09
1st, we have with the zoning changes, not just list legislation but with the zoning changes, clear zoning regulations when it comes to ADUs.
0:27:21
With this legislation, we have clear code requirements when it comes to both ADUs and basements.
0:27:29
That clarity and, the, making it easier for owners to be able to navigate the very complex and myriad environment that exists today, we think will make a really fundamental difference.
0:27:44
But we're not stopping there.
0:27:46
We're also creating a resource library for homeowners, to make it easier for them to navigate the codes that we hope will be, adopted.
0:27:57
That will, include step by step process for homeowners on how to navigate this, as well as, we are hoping to have preapproved plans available so that, those if they use those plans, they can move pretty quickly, through the process, and certainly that will cut down costs.
0:28:20
So we're working on many fronts to make it easier in addition to that technical assistance.
0:28:25
We are, also, we have a plus one ADU program at HPD right now.
0:28:32
It was, it is more limited in scale today because of some of the zoning and code restrictions that exist, but it's our intent to make sure that that program remains an offering, going forward.
0:28:46
Couple other things I would just note, in the, so we administer a lot of programs at HPD, including homeowner repair programs.
0:28:59
We launched our latest homeowner program program about 5 years ago.
0:29:03
And in the first four and a half years, we got about 5,000 expressions of interest in our homeowner repair program.
0:29:10
We launched our plus one ADU program last November, this time last year, and the application window or the letter of interest window was open for just under 3 months.
0:29:23
We got 2,008 100 homeowners that reached out to us in that very short period of time.
0:29:32
And homeowners overwhelmingly said that they are interested in adding an ADU to their home because it improves their financial security and their ability to house their family and address their family's needs.
0:29:48
And so, allowing ADUs, whether it's a basement or it's a detached small unit, attached, helps homeowners address their own family's needs.
0:30:06
That is what we are looking for here is to provide an option for homeowners to address their needs and make it more e easier for them to do so.
