AIA wades into mayoral race with set of real estate policies

In a rare move, the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects, a national trade group, has entered the city’s political realm by releasing its first mayoral platform, outlining several real estate policy proposals, Crain’s reported.

“We just felt these issues were too important to stand on the sidelines anymore,” Jill Lerner, a principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and the chapter president, told Crain’s. “Whether it’s zoning and building codes or sustainability issues or climate change and Sandy, politicians set the agenda for how the city gets built. We want to help them set that agenda.”

One measure that the group is advocating, for example, is the development of 100,000 units of affordable housing during the next 10 years. The addition of more open space is an additional priority, they say. The group also wants to fully complete the Green Code, a city zoning policy passed in 2010 that aims to make it easier for building owners to implement environmentally friendly measures.

“Under this mayor, there’s been so many positive changes in the built environment,” Lerner told Crain’s of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “It’s been great to see the benefits for our architecture, our infrastructure, our housing and out open space, and we want to make sure this progress continues under the next administration.” [Crain’s] –Zachary Kussin