A little bit of housing everywhere. Just not here. And not there.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ focus on housing policy has excited pro-housing groups, and underscored conversations about addressing the housing crisis on the local level.
In theory, supporting the creation of more housing is an easy commitment, but when you have a specific site, detailed plans for a project and a process to make it happen, consensus tends to lose out to familiar objections.
“I know we need to do our job to make sure there is more housing. However, I also feel that neighborhood character matters,” Assembly member Robert Carroll said during a Community Board 7 hearing. “Mantras of preserving the character of neighborhoods have maybe been laced with xenophobia or racism. That is not always the case, and it is not the case here.”
Carroll was speaking about a proposal for two 13-story buildings at 441 and 467 Prospect Avenue. Of its 244 apartments, 25 to 30 percent (61 to 73) would be affordable under the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing law.
Carroll urged the board to reject the proposal and to instead engage with nonprofits for a 100 percent affordable project. But the site is privately owned and could be developed under the current zoning or sold to the highest bidder. In other words, the developer would not have to go along with such an alternative.
The Adams administration is pushing for “a little more housing in every neighborhood,” with changes billed as “gentle” increases in density. But some community members and elected officials fear these changes will completely overtake their neighborhoods.
The city is planning affordable housing for seniors on the city-owned site occupied by the Elizabeth Street Garden, yet faced persistent opponents (who eventually lost). The Democratic Party may have gone Yimby, but that does not mean these kinds of zoning fights are going away in solid-blue NYC.
What we’re thinking about: Are real estate professionals who backed Mayor Eric Adams concerned he will be indicted? Are they already thinking about whom to support if he drops out of the race? Send a note to kathryn@therealdeal.com.
A thing we’ve learned: The predecessor to Fashion Week, dubbed “Press Week,” was started in 1943 by the Plaza Hotel’s publicist, according to a new report by Partnership for New York.
Elsewhere in New York…
— After a City Council hearing made it clear that he was not going to be confirmed, Randy Mastro on Tuesday asked Mayor Eric Adams to rescind his nomination to be the city’s corporation counsel, Crain’s reports. “I appreciate the opportunity you sought to afford me. And I remain deeply honored and humbled by the confidence you have shown in me to serve the city in this important legal capacity,” Mastro wrote. “But it is not to be.”
— Federal authorities are investigating a possible bribery scheme involving Pearl Alliance, a consulting firm run by Terence Banks, the New York Times confirms. Last week, officials seized the phones of Banks’ older brothers, schools chancellor David Banks and the deputy mayor for public safety, Philip B. Banks III.
— The mayor on Tuesday denied that he is seeking the resignation of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, though he left the commissioner’s future with the administration open-ended, Gothamist reports. “If there’s a change of personnel in the city, we’re going to do what we’ve always have done — we announce it,” Adams said. “And if someone decides to go on with another aspect of their lives, we will announce that as well.”
Closing Time
Residential: The priciest residential sale Tuesday was $6.8 million for a 4,000-square-foot townhouse at 165 East 64th Street in Lenox Hill. Trudy Schlachter and Paul Hazen of Douglas Elliman had the listing.
Commercial: The largest commercial sale of the day was $4.7 million for a 10,000-square-foot industrial property at 835 40th Street in Sunset Park.
New to the Market: The highest price for a residential property hitting the market was $22.9 million for a 6,800-square-foot multifamily residence at 114 Waverly Place in Greenwich Village. Christopher Riccio and Elana Zinoman of Douglas Elliman have the listing.
Breaking Ground: The largest new building application filed was for a 17,430-square-foot, five-story, 20-unit mixed use project at 2951 Briggs Avenue in Bedford Park. David Nagan of King David Architecture filed the permit. — Matthew Elo