Painful Concessions Likely on Mayor Eric Adams’ Housing Plan

Voices of reason support the Adams administration’s housing plan, but that won’t be enough to pass it.

Consider the Daily News editorial board’s endorsement of the reforms in the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity:

“Are the proposals perfect? What is? Some Council members might think City of Yes goes too far, others not far enough. They can mull and debate these frustrations until they’re blue in the face, but soon will be time for a simple up-down vote, and there’s one clear correct choice.”

There’s a lot more to the story, though. But first, the big picture.

The News noted, correctly, that the plan is modest, not radical, and in many cases rolls back unnecessary restrictions on development imposed in 1961:

“A number of the ideas aren’t even new; they’re returning to prior approaches that worked, before a mid-century freakout over the city expanding too quickly,” the editorial board wrote. “If you’ve ever seen housing built over a commercial strip or a denser housing near transit — and if you live in almost any neighborhood in the city you almost certainly have — then you’ve seen some of the types of developments the program is meant to facilitate.”

Referring to Curtis Sliwa and others, the News added, “Anyone saying that there will suddenly be high-rises cropping up in the middle of sleepy outer-borough neighborhoods is lying.”

However, the newspaper oversimplified the choice facing the City Council. Before the up-or-down vote, the Council will have to modify the plan to get at least 26 votes in favor. The real drama will occur behind the scenes.

As is, City of Yes would create up to 109,000 homes, which sounds like a lot but would only be a 3 percent increase in the city’s total, spread out over many years. Still, because of politics and paranoia, changes to the citywide text amendment will be required to ensure passage.

Conservative Democrats and Republicans, who want to freeze 1961 zoning forever, will vote against City of Yes. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who wants to leave a pro-housing legacy, will vote for it, as will her top lieutenants. The rest of the Council is in play.

The Progressive Caucus will lament the lack of affordability requirements but figures to vote in favor. Its alternative is to admit that “progressive” is not really about progress and join conservatives in an unholy alliance against housing, as the left did to block Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Housing Compact in 2023.

However, if the proposal is watered down too much to appease members on the fence, such as by maintaining the city’s outdated parking requirements and restrictions on accessory dwelling units, City of Yes could lose support from members who favor reform. But chances are they would grumble and vote for whatever’s left of the plan.

The speaker is no doubt counting votes and keeping track of each member’s wish list. Unfortunately, her task has become further complicated by the scandal engulfing Mayor Eric Adams, as The Real Deal first reported. How can he promise favors and funding to secure votes from fence-sitting members when he has no political capital and no realistic chance to serve a second term?

The most likely outcome for City of Yes is a diluted measure that adds a nearly unnoticeable number of housing units.