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TESTIMONY

Marlee Busching from Hudson Companies on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity's impact on residential development in NYC

6:32:07

·

125 sec

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Marlee Busching, Managing Director of Development at Hudson Companies, expresses strong support for the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative. She argues that the proposal can address New York City's housing and affordability crisis by enabling more residential development.

  • Highlights two key provisions: removing parking minimum requirements and the universal affordability preference, which would allow Hudson Companies to develop more sites and increase housing density
  • Personally endorses Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and town centers zoning for low-density neighborhoods like her own in Brooklyn
  • Urges approval of all aspects of City of Yes, stating it can lead to a more diverse and inclusive city
  • City of Yes for Housing Opportunity can address New York City's housing and affordability crisis
  • Removing parking minimum requirements would allow consideration of more sites for development
  • Universal affordability preference will allow developers to increase density and address housing shortage
  • ADUs and town centers zoning could enhance low-density neighborhoods
  • City of Yes can lead to a more diverse and inclusive city

[EXPERIMENTAL]

Which elements of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity were discussed in this testimony?

  • UAP
  • Town Center Zoning
  • Parking Mandates
  • ADU

The following are AI-extracted quotes and reasoning about which elements of the proposal were discussed in this testimony.

This is a quick, close approximation. Occasionally, the connection between a testimony's transcript and specific elements of City Planning's proposal is tenuous.

Read about this AI-generated analysis here.

UAP

"Additionally, the universal affordability preference will allow for developers like Hudson to increase the density of a given site do more to address the housing shortage. Requiring rents to be affordable to households earning no more than 60% AMI will go a long way in reducing the number of rent burden holds in New York City."

This quote directly discusses the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) element of the proposal, mentioning increased density and the 60% AMI requirement, which aligns with the UAP description.

Town Center Zoning

"That would be one of the few places throughout the city where ADUs and town centers zoning could be applied."

The speaker directly mentions 'town centers zoning' as an element that could be applied in their neighborhood, indicating awareness and discussion of this aspect of the proposal.

Parking Mandates

"The provision to remove parking minimum requirements would allow us to consider sites for development that we must currently rule out. We are currently underwriting various sites for workforce housing that pencil in a city of yes scenario, but do not without. That means we might pass on the opportunity to build 100 of units of housing due to the onerous parking requirements the zoning resolution currently mandates."

This quote directly addresses the proposal to remove parking mandates, discussing how current parking requirements hinder development and how their removal would allow for more housing to be built.

ADU

"That would be one of the few places throughout the city where ADUs and town centers zoning could be applied."

The speaker mentions ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) as an element that could be applied in their neighborhood, indicating awareness and discussion of this aspect of the proposal.


About this analysis:

This analysis is done by AI that reasons whether or not a quote from the testimony discusses a particular element of the proposal.

All the prompts and data are open and available on Github.

You can search for testimonies that mentioned a specific element in the table on the main meeting page.

When an element is explicitly stated in the testimony (e.g. "Universal Affordability Preference" or "UAP"), the analysis is accurate.

But the connection between a quote from the testimony and an element of the proposal is sometimes implicit.

In these cases, the AI might eagerly label a testimony as discussing a proposal when the connection is tenuous, or it might omit it entirely.

↗ Why are there transcription and diarization errors?
Dan Garodnick
6:32:07
Welcome.
Marlee Busching
6:32:08
Happy to.
6:32:09
My name is Marley Bushing, and I'm the managing director of development at the Hudson Companies.
6:32:14
Hudson is a residential multifamily developer with nearly 4 decades of experience building housing in New York City.
6:32:21
The bulk of our work is supportive, affordable and workforce housing in the outer boroughs.
6:32:26
Hudson is at its core, a New York City developer.
6:32:29
It is no surprise that in recent years has become more and more difficult to do our work in the city.
6:32:35
Rising costs, interest rates, and scarce land have all constrained our ability to build here.
6:32:40
City of yes for housing opportunity has the ability to change that.
6:32:44
If approved in its entirety, City of Yes can help address New York City's housing and affordability crisis.
6:32:51
Two areas of City of Yes,
Christie Peale
6:32:53
are especially compelling for our work.
Marlee Busching
6:32:55
The provision to remove parking minimum requirements would allow us to consider sites for development that we must currently rule out.
6:33:02
We are currently underwriting various sites for workforce housing that pencil in a city of yes scenario, but do not without.
6:33:09
That means we might pass on the opportunity to build 100 of units of housing due to the onerous parking requirements the zoning resolution currently mandates.
6:33:20
Additionally, the universal affordability preference will allow for developers like Hudson to increase the density of a given site do more to address the housing shortage.
6:33:31
Requiring rents to be affordable to households earning no more than 60% AMI will go a long way in reducing the number of rent burden holds in New York City.
6:33:39
On a personal note, I live in a low density neighborhood in Brooklyn.
6:33:43
That would be one of the few places throughout the city where ADUs and town centers zoning could be applied.
6:33:49
These zoning changes will be accretive to my neighborhood and not detract from the character, but rather enhance it.
6:33:55
Neighborhoods like Vine, should take on their fair share of housing to address our housing crisis.
6:34:00
City of Yes for housing has the ability to change the New York City landscape for the better and to lead to a more diverse inclusive city.
6:34:07
I urge you to say yes to housing and improve all aspects City of Yes.
6:34:11
Thank you.

Follow-up discussion/remarks

QUESTION

Commissioner Douek requests data on potential impact of City of Yes proposal

6:34:17

·

44 sec

Commissioner Joseph Douek asks Marlee Busching of Hudson Companies to provide information on how many additional housing units could have been built if the City of Yes proposal had been in place for their current projects under construction.

  • Busching agrees to conduct an analysis and provide the requested data
  • She mentions a recent project where parking requirements were an issue, highlighting the potential impact of the proposal
  • Commissioner Douek notes that this information will provide guidance on what the proposal aims to accomplish
  • City of Yes for Housing Opportunity can address New York City's housing and affordability crisis
  • Removing parking minimum requirements would allow consideration of more sites for development
  • Universal affordability preference will allow developers to increase density and address housing shortage
  • ADUs and town centers zoning could enhance low-density neighborhoods
  • City of Yes can lead to a more diverse and inclusive city

[EXPERIMENTAL]

Which elements of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity were discussed in this testimony?

  • UAP
  • Town Center Zoning
  • Parking Mandates
  • ADU

The following are AI-extracted quotes and reasoning about which elements of the proposal were discussed in this testimony.

This is a quick, close approximation. Occasionally, the connection between a testimony's transcript and specific elements of City Planning's proposal is tenuous.

Read about this AI-generated analysis here.

UAP

"Additionally, the universal affordability preference will allow for developers like Hudson to increase the density of a given site do more to address the housing shortage. Requiring rents to be affordable to households earning no more than 60% AMI will go a long way in reducing the number of rent burden holds in New York City."

This quote directly discusses the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) element of the proposal, mentioning increased density and the 60% AMI requirement, which aligns with the UAP description.

Town Center Zoning

"That would be one of the few places throughout the city where ADUs and town centers zoning could be applied."

The speaker directly mentions 'town centers zoning' as an element that could be applied in their neighborhood, indicating awareness and discussion of this aspect of the proposal.

Parking Mandates

"The provision to remove parking minimum requirements would allow us to consider sites for development that we must currently rule out. We are currently underwriting various sites for workforce housing that pencil in a city of yes scenario, but do not without. That means we might pass on the opportunity to build 100 of units of housing due to the onerous parking requirements the zoning resolution currently mandates."

This quote directly addresses the proposal to remove parking mandates, discussing how current parking requirements hinder development and how their removal would allow for more housing to be built.

ADU

"That would be one of the few places throughout the city where ADUs and town centers zoning could be applied."

The speaker mentions ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) as an element that could be applied in their neighborhood, indicating awareness and discussion of this aspect of the proposal.


About this analysis:

This analysis is done by AI that reasons whether or not a quote from the testimony discusses a particular element of the proposal.

All the prompts and data are open and available on Github.

You can search for testimonies that mentioned a specific element in the table on the main meeting page.

When an element is explicitly stated in the testimony (e.g. "Universal Affordability Preference" or "UAP"), the analysis is accurate.

But the connection between a quote from the testimony and an element of the proposal is sometimes implicit.

In these cases, the AI might eagerly label a testimony as discussing a proposal when the connection is tenuous, or it might omit it entirely.

↗ Why are there transcription and diarization errors?
Joseph Douek
6:34:17
the testimony.
6:34:18
You're actively developing sites right now?
6:34:20
Yes.
Marlee Busching
6:34:21
We have 10 projects under construction.
Joel Siegel
6:34:23
It would be interesting, and
Joseph Douek
6:34:24
I don't expect you to have the answer here.
6:34:25
If you can get back to us and just give us an idea how many more units would be would have been built, had this proposal been in place at
Joseph Rosenberg
6:34:33
the time you started construction?
Marlee Busching
6:34:35
Yeah.
6:34:35
That's certainly an analysis we can do.
6:34:37
I I can't do a back of envelope right now, but, you know, something like the parking specifically.
6:34:42
We actually have a project come before the commission within the past 6 months or so, and the parking was an issue there.
6:34:48
We managed to figure it out, but it's something like that could really change the outcome of a project.
Joseph Douek
6:34:53
That'll give us some guidance on what we're trying to accomplish here.
6:34:57
Absolutely.
6:34:57
Thank you.
6:34:58
Yes.
Dan Garodnick
6:34:58
Thank you, Puneet, sir.
6:35:00
Pleasure to help.
QUESTION

Commissioner Rosenberg inquires about tax exemptions and UAP for housing projects

6:35:03

·

33 sec

Commissioner Joseph Rosenberg asks Marlee Busching of Hudson Companies about the potential use of the 485x tax exemption in conjunction with the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) for their projects. Busching confirms that tax exemptions are crucial for workforce housing development.

  • Busching emphasizes the necessity of tax exemptions like 421A or 485x for workforce housing projects
  • She notes that combining various options, including UAP and tax exemptions, would improve opportunities for new development in New York City
  • City of Yes for Housing Opportunity can address New York City's housing and affordability crisis
  • Removing parking minimum requirements would allow consideration of more sites for development
  • Universal affordability preference will allow developers to increase density and address housing shortage
  • ADUs and town centers zoning could enhance low-density neighborhoods
  • City of Yes can lead to a more diverse and inclusive city

[EXPERIMENTAL]

Which elements of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity were discussed in this testimony?

  • UAP
  • Town Center Zoning
  • Parking Mandates
  • ADU

The following are AI-extracted quotes and reasoning about which elements of the proposal were discussed in this testimony.

This is a quick, close approximation. Occasionally, the connection between a testimony's transcript and specific elements of City Planning's proposal is tenuous.

Read about this AI-generated analysis here.

UAP

"Additionally, the universal affordability preference will allow for developers like Hudson to increase the density of a given site do more to address the housing shortage. Requiring rents to be affordable to households earning no more than 60% AMI will go a long way in reducing the number of rent burden holds in New York City."

This quote directly discusses the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) element of the proposal, mentioning increased density and the 60% AMI requirement, which aligns with the UAP description.

Town Center Zoning

"That would be one of the few places throughout the city where ADUs and town centers zoning could be applied."

The speaker directly mentions 'town centers zoning' as an element that could be applied in their neighborhood, indicating awareness and discussion of this aspect of the proposal.

Parking Mandates

"The provision to remove parking minimum requirements would allow us to consider sites for development that we must currently rule out. We are currently underwriting various sites for workforce housing that pencil in a city of yes scenario, but do not without. That means we might pass on the opportunity to build 100 of units of housing due to the onerous parking requirements the zoning resolution currently mandates."

This quote directly addresses the proposal to remove parking mandates, discussing how current parking requirements hinder development and how their removal would allow for more housing to be built.

ADU

"That would be one of the few places throughout the city where ADUs and town centers zoning could be applied."

The speaker mentions ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) as an element that could be applied in their neighborhood, indicating awareness and discussion of this aspect of the proposal.


About this analysis:

This analysis is done by AI that reasons whether or not a quote from the testimony discusses a particular element of the proposal.

All the prompts and data are open and available on Github.

You can search for testimonies that mentioned a specific element in the table on the main meeting page.

When an element is explicitly stated in the testimony (e.g. "Universal Affordability Preference" or "UAP"), the analysis is accurate.

But the connection between a quote from the testimony and an element of the proposal is sometimes implicit.

In these cases, the AI might eagerly label a testimony as discussing a proposal when the connection is tenuous, or it might omit it entirely.

↗ Why are there transcription and diarization errors?
Joseph Rosenberg
6:35:03
Follow-up on that.
6:35:04
So would you anticipate utilizing 485x in conjunction with UAP and your projects?
Marlee Busching
6:35:15
That is a great question.
6:35:17
In terms of the workforce housing that we do, it's not really possible to do it without the tax exemption Right.
6:35:24
Like 421A or 485x.
6:35:26
Right.
6:35:26
So it's definitely a matter of layering the various options.
6:35:30
And I certainly think that the 2 together improved the opportunity for new development in the city.

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