New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced significant progress in addressing the city’s housing crisis. Building on a commitment made last year, the Adams administration has advanced a housing initiative aimed at creating nearly 10,000 new homes on city-owned properties. According to an official statement, the plan has been moving forward since the implementation of Executive Order 43, which directed city agencies to identify suitable sites for development.
The order led to the inception of the City Housing Activation Task Force (CHAT), which rounded up contributors from over 20 city agencies. Under its guidance, the city has now identified 11 prospective properties for housing development. Among these are two new projects at 390 Kent Avenue in Brooklyn and 1880 First Avenue in Manhattan, with the goal to make at least a quarter of the housing on each site affordable. This initiative aligns with Adams' 'Affordable Autumn' campaign, which aims to bring financial relief to the working class and generate a more affordable living environment in NYC. "Where past administrations saw vacant lots and old office buildings, our administration saw housing," Mayor Adams said in a press release.
Providing more specifics, the City Housing Activation Task Force is overseeing the redevelopment of a waterfront property at 390 Kent Avenue, once utilized by the New York City Department of Transportation and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. With plans for at least 900 new units, a slice of Williamsburg's waterfront is due for rejuvenation. Conversely, an East Harlem city-owned parking lot adjacent to Metropolitan Hospital is set to accommodate roughly 800 new homes, a move said to enrich the city's 'Housing for Health' initiative.
These developments represent just one part of the administration’s broader housing strategy. Additional sites included under this initiative span locations such as the Grand Concourse Library, Gansevoort Square, Coney Island West Parcel A, and several others outlined in Mayor Adams’ comprehensive housing blueprint. From the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, which aims to create approximately 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years, to initiatives focused on expanding tenant protections and supporting homeownership, the administration is working to transform New York City’s housing landscape. Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión Jr. noted that just one year after the mayor’s executive order establishing the City Housing Activation Task Force, nearly 10,000 new homes on city-owned land are already moving forward, as stated in the official release.
The administration’s efforts are reflected in several record-setting achievements. So far, it has secured the highest number of affordable rental units in a single fiscal year and set records in housing placements for homeless New Yorkers, as well as in the availability of homes through the city’s housing lottery. These initiatives are part of a broader housing strategy aimed at increasing access to affordable homes across the city.
