Council action impacts more than 2,100 affordable housing units

City Hall – The New York City Council on Wednesday will vote on several land use items to preserve and expand affordable housing across New York City. This will be the first vote since all hearings and stated meetings were postponed because of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Following weeks of preparation by members and Council staff, the Council is proud to continue operations remotely. During today’s Stated Meeting, the first remote Stated in the Council’s 82-year history, an 11-bill COVID-19 relief package will be introduced that aims to protect tenants, help small businesses survive, and creatively address the public health crisis brought on by the virus. Those bills were announced on Tuesday.

Today, the Council will vote on measures that will create and preserve over 2,000 units of affordable housing. As the economy tumbles and New Yorkers struggle to pay bills, it is critical that New Yorkers have access to deeply affordable housing. The measures voted on today will address that situation through a series of partial and full property tax exemptions. In addition, the Council will vote on a critical affordable and supportive housing project that will allow for the conversion of a former hotel into a 500-unit supportive and affordable housing facility in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn.

The Council will also vote to provide additional services and support to the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub business improvement district. This will include an increase in the amount to be expended annually in the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub business improvement district, extending the boundaries of such district and modifying existing services in such district.

Finally, the Council will also vote on a measure to designate five buildings on the block known as Tin Pan Alley in Lower Manhattan as a landmark in Speaker Corey Johnson’s district. These buildings were once home to several sheet-music publishers who revolutionized the industry. This landmark designation will preserve this iconic area’s rich history.

“The entire city has had to adjust daily to this ever-changing crisis in ways we never imagined. Certainly, our predecessors 82-years-ago never imagined a remote stated meeting. The Council is proud to practice social distancing while continuing to pass legislation to improve the lives of New Yorkers. We’re looking forward in the weeks to come to holding remote stated meetings and introducing bills that are critical to coping with this crisis and its aftermath,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

“My colleagues and I never stopped serving our constituents, but we are proud to restart our legislative work by passing bills during remote stated meetings and vetting them during virtual hearings. Thank you to Council staff for working night and day to make this a reality because we need these bills to continue to protect New Yorkers,” said Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo.  

“Like all New Yorkers, the City Council must adapt to a new reality in the midst of a global pandemic. The inaugural remote Stated Meeting will no doubt be the first of many “virtual” public hearings we will hold to ensure we do all we can to fulfill our responsibility to our constituents while safeguarding public health. I am eager to continue to work with my colleagues to help guide our city through this crisis and help those who have been so devastated by it. I want to thank all of the staff for their hard work and persistence in overcoming significant challenges to make this happen,” said Minority Leader Steven Matteo.

“Today’s virtual Stated Meeting will ensure that the critical work of the NYC Council can continue in the midst of this storm,” said NYC Council Finance Chair Daniel Dromm.  “Under the leadership of Speaker Johnson, we have risen to meet the many unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meeting remotely as a body will help the Council further these life-saving efforts while practicing social distancing. I applaud the Speaker and his staff for working quickly and creatively to provide Council Members with the tools we need to serve the public during these extraordinary times.”

“These challenging times demand that we adjust to the current situation, but we must not lose hope or focus. The Council’s first virtual stated meeting is yet another example of Speaker Corey Johnson’s determination to lead with purpose. Serving, supporting and representing our constituents is always at the forefront of what we do — and, this time, that’s no different. As a council, we have plenty of work to do now and there is much more ahead of us. We are ready and eager to continue handling the people’s work,” said Council Land Use Committee Chair Rafael Salamanca Jr.

In addition to those mentioned above, the Council will vote on several other land use and finance items, as well one piece of legislation sponsored by Council Member Daniel Dromm.

Introduction No. 1854, sponsored by Council Member Daniel Dromm, would amend the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to authorizing an increase in the amount to be expended annually in the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub business improvement district, an extension of the boundaries of such district, the provision of additional services and the modification of existing services in such district, a change in the method of assessment upon which the district charge is based, and an increase in the maximum total amount to be expended for improvements in such district. 

“Intro 1854 will help bring additional supportive services to the many businesses in the 20th district,” said NYC Council Finance Chair Daniel Dromm. “This boundary expansion will mean more resources for the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub BID, for its membership and ultimately for the many people who call Flushing home. I am pleased to work alongside Council Member Koo on this effort to fortify local business in his community.”

LAND USE

90 Sands

Applications to facilitate the conversion of a former hotel into a supportive and affordable housing facility in Council Member Steve Levin’s district with over 500 units of deeply affordable and supportive housing.  

River Crossing

Extension of an existing ground lease for the preservation of 147 residential units within the River Crossing complex in Council Member Diana Ayala’s district.

Rochester Suydam

Department of Housing Preservation applications to facilitate the development of 78 affordable homeownership units in Council Members Alicka Ampry-Samuel and Robert Cornegy’s districts.

Sea Breeze Rezoning

Rezoning to facilitate commercial uses in a mixed-use development in Council Member Chaim Deutsch’s district. 

Queens Blvd. MIH Text

Amendment to the NYC Zoning Resolution establishing two Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Areas to facilitate two new mixed-use developments, in Council Member’s Jimmy Van Bramer and Bob Holden’s districts.

8118 13th Avenue

Rezoning to legalize an existing law office by making it a conforming use in Council Member Justin Brannan’s district.

47-55 W 28th Street

Landmark designation of five buildings that represent Tin Pan Alley’s concentration of New York City’s influential popular music business and its importance to American culture, in Speaker Corey Johnson’s district.

Sea View Campus

NYC Health + Hospitals application to facilitate a lease with Camelot of Staten Island, Inc. to operate a residential Substance Use Disorder (“SUD”) program on the Sea View Campus, in Council Member Steve Matteo’s district.

272 East 7th Street

Urban Development Action Area Project Approval (UDAAP) and approval of a tax exemption in Council Member Carlina Rivera’s district.

Cooper Square Amended Article X1

Amendment to a previously approved tax exemption to exempt the community facility space, in Council Members Margaret Chin and Carlina Rivera’s districts.

364 Avenue of the America’s Rezoning

Rezoning to facilitate the legalization of a Physical Culture Establishment in Council Member Margaret Chin’s district.

FINANCE

1898 Harrison Avenue

This property, in Council Member Fernando Cabrera’s district, would receive a 40-year Article XI property tax exemption to help finance the rehabilitation and preservation of 54 units of rental housing affordable to households earning 50% to 120% AMI.

Grace Senior Housing

This property, in Council Member Rory Lancman’s district, would receive a 40-yearArticle XI property tax exemption to help finance the rehabilitation and preservation of 80 units of Section 8 rental housing for seniors affordable to households earning up to 50% AMI.

HP Morningside Heights Portfolio

This property, in Council Members Mark Levine and Bill Perkins’ districts, would receive a partial 40-year Article XI property tax exemption to help finance the preservation of 502 units of rental housing affordable to households earning 30% to 110% AMI and 165 market rate units, spread across a portfolio of 48 buildings.

Turin House

This property, in Council Member Helen Rosenthal’s district, would receive a 40-year Article XI property tax exemption to help finance the rehabilitation and preservation of 189 units of limited-equity homeownership affordable to households earning up to 165% AMI.

Schreiber

This property, in Council Member Bill Perkins’ district, would receive a partial 40-year Article XI property tax exemption to help finance the preservation of 182 units of rental housing in a portfolio of five buildings affordable to households earning 55% to 125% of AMI.

757 East 169th Street

This property, in Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr.’s district, would receive a 40-year Article XI property tax exemption to help finance the preservation of 24 units of limited-equity homeownership affordable to households earning up to 120% AMI.

Howard Amron House

This property, in Council Member Ben Kallos’district, would receive a partial 40-year Article XI property tax exemption to help finance the preservation of 11 units of rental housing permanently affordable to households earning up to 80% AMI.

Belmont Daniel

This property, in Council Member Deborah Rose’s district, would receive a partial 40-year Article XI property tax exemption to help finance the renovation and preservation of 112 units of rental housing in two buildings affordable to households earning up to 65% to 100% AMI)

Manhattan Avenue Apartments

This property, in Council Member Mark Levine’s district, would receive a partial 40-year Article XI property tax exemption to help finance the preservation of 81 units of Section 8 rental housing in four buildings affordable to households earning up to 50% AMI.

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