3:04:50
Very, very happy to be here.
3:04:52
My name is Sabrina Littmann.
3:04:53
I am the new CEO of habitat for humanity, New York City, and Westchester County.
3:04:58
And I wanna start by thanking the entire city planning commission for the opportunity to testify into the Adams administration for proposing the city of yes.
3:05:08
I am here to express our incredibly strong support for proposal and to urge you to vote in favor of these critical zoning reforms that will allow for the creation of more housing across all of our communities.
3:05:19
Habitat and YC in Westchester knows the power and importance of affordable housing and home ownership as we've spent the past 40 years building and preserving more than 26100 homes for low to moderate income families in all five boroughs.
3:05:33
Affordable home ownership is a critical part of the housing continuum.
3:05:38
In order to build an equitable city, it is imperative to invest in solutions that build family and community equity.
3:05:44
And with the capital resources and innovative spirit, our affordable and market rate housing sector brings to the table, New York City should be the envy of the nation.
3:05:53
And how to equitably house our neighbors.
3:05:55
But regrettably, we continue to lag behind with the homeownership rate at Upholstery 30% less than half the national average.
3:06:03
It is our existing housing policies are insufficient to meet the ever increasing demand.
3:06:09
We all have a responsibility to our fellow New Yorkers, and the families would be a part of our community if given the opportunity.
3:06:16
The city of yes, updates our collective toolbox of strategies to help meet current needs and advance equity building by enabling the construction of more housing in every neighborhood.
3:06:30
We at Habitat particularly want to emphasize strategies that will support homeowners and enable more homeownership opportunities to be created, including permitting accessory dwelling units and district fixes, This will provide more space for multigenerational families, implementing a universal affordability preference to allow buildings to add at least 20% more housing if the additional homes are permanently affordable and enable and support the missing middle housing.
3:06:59
Conducive to condo and cooperative development through town center zoning and transit oriented development.
3:07:06
Time and again are leaders speak of building a more equitable and affordable New York.
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This is a big step in laying that foundation for this more equitable city.
3:07:17
Thank you again so much for the opportunity to testify today.
3:07:20
We look forward to continuing our partnership with the city and serving Low Income families in need of affordable home ownership.
