New York Times editorial board backs more development

Grey Lady cautions against Nimbyism as city faces 'dire' housing need

From left: Brooklyn Bridge Park tower rendering (Alloy Design + Bjarke Ingles Group) and 40 Riverside Boulevard rendering
From left: Brooklyn Bridge Park tower rendering (Alloy Design + Bjarke Ingles Group) and 40 Riverside Boulevard rendering

The best way to increase New York City’s affordable housing stock is to induce the private market to grow it, writes the New York Times editorial board.

The board has come out against NIMBYism, saying that deals need to be cut with developers and the city needs to grow upwards. It dismisses a lawsuit meant to derail a residential tower development at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park as a battle being waged by 1-percenters who want to keep the park uncluttered by new housing. And the board writes that the controversy over the “poor door” at Extell Development’s 40 Riverside Boulevard misses the point that the building will economically integrate a block.

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“Nimbyism has its place — when the offending structures are illegal toxic-waste dumps or brothels. But with the housing need so dire in New York City, a more farsighted and flexible approach to change is called for,” writes the editorial board.

The board does say the city should continue to drive a hard bargain. It should not, for example, settle for an 80-20 mix of market rate and affordable units at every new development, but seek the best arrangement possible on a case-by-case basis. [NYT]Tom DiChristopher