Village Preservation testified Wednesday in the City Planning Commission’s marathon day-long hearing, which went well into the evening. We pushed back on the Mayor’s premise that building more unaffordable housing will make our city more affordable, particularly for those most in need, and specifically on provisions in the plan that would increase the allowable size and height of luxury condo developments, eliminate existing incentives for including affordable housing in new development, and allow developers to build on and into open space and rear yards in our neighborhoods.

The far-reaching 1,400-page “City of Yes” plan would dramatically transform the way in which residential development can take place in our city — too much of it for the worse. Almost the entire plan is geared toward increasing the amount of market-rate housing being built, which in our neighborhoods and much of the rest of the city means increasing the levels of construction of very expensive, luxury housing — out of reach of most New Yorkers and those who need housing most.

Comments on the plan will be accepted by the City Planning Commission until July 22. It’s critical that not only the Commission, but the City Council (which will hear and vote upon the plan in the fall) and our local Community Boards (which have not yet voted on the plan) hear your concerns now.

TO HELP: