PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ryan Chavez, Program Director of Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) on ADU and Basement Apartment Legislation
1:36:39
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132 sec
Ryan Chavez, representing Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC), testified in support of the proposed ADU and basement apartment legalization bills. He shared insights from CHLDC's experience with the East New York Basement Apartment Conversion pilot program, emphasizing the high demand for basement legalization and the need to address regulatory barriers.
- Chavez urged the council to align minimum ceiling height requirements with international and state codes (7 foot minimum) to reduce expensive excavation work.
- He stressed the importance of accompanying the legislation with a robust public loan and grant program, paired with rental affordability requirements, to make the program effective in low and moderate income communities.
- Chavez indicated that without financial support, homeowners of modest means would not be able to afford the necessary upgrades for compliance.
Ryan Chavez
1:36:39
Good afternoon, Chair Sanchez, members of the committee.
1:36:42
My name is Ryan Chavez, director of small homes programs at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation.
1:36:49
Founded in 1983, CHLDC, it's a nonprofit community development organization and settlement house based in East New York, and we are also proud members of the bank coalition.
1:36:59
DHLDC had the privilege of administering the East New York Basement Apartment Conversion pilot program in partnership with HPD beginning in 2019, and it's through this work that we gained unique firsthand experience with the opportunities and challenges of basement apartment legalization.
1:37:17
One of the clearest takeaways from the pilot was that demand for basement legalization is overwhelming in communities like ours.
1:37:24
However, we also learned that existing regulatory barriers make it nearly impossible to implement a program of this kind at scale.
1:37:34
So the ADU and basements bills under consideration today represent significant steps forward in addressing several of the barriers identified in the pilot, and we commend the council for taking up these bills and strongly urge you to pass them.
1:37:50
We also recommend a few key revisions that would further strengthen this legislation, which I will detail in my written testimony.
1:37:58
But here, I would urge the council to align the minimum ceiling height requirements for subgrade apartments with international and state codes that require a 7 foot minimum.
1:38:09
This revision would eliminate the need for exorbitantly expensive excavation work, a major barrier in nearly all homes in the East New York pilot.
1:38:19
Further, to ensure that this program is effective in low and moderate income communities where basement apartments are concentrated, it is critical to accompany these legislative changes with a robust public loan and grant program, which should be paired with rental affordability requirements.
1:38:37
Without financial support, homeowners of modest means simply will not be able to afford the upgrades necessary to bring them into compliance.
Jumaane Williams
1:38:45
Thank you.
Ryan Chavez
1:38:45
We firmly expired.
1:38:48
Thank you very much.
1:38:49
The rest of my comments will be in my written testimony.
