To address a serious housing shortage, New York City is trying to get more homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
The city recently unveiled a program that offers owners of single-family homes up to nearly $400,000 to construct an apartment on their property. The program is modest in scope, limiting the number of grants to 15 homeowners, but the city hopes it will create momentum for building more granny flats.
The mayor’s administration is also backing zoning changes to allow homeowners in more parts of the city to add ADUs. Previous government initiatives to modify regulations and encourage development of ADUs have largely failed, according to a report in the New York Times. Suburban legislators helped stymie Gov. Kathy Hochul’s attempt this year to ease some restrictions, the Times reported.
Although many people conceive of New York as a high-density area, lower-density neighborhoods make up more than half of the city’s land. These neighborhoods can accommodate many ADUs.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | May 16, 2019
Mixed reviews on targeted tax break for San Francisco neighborhood
“Twitter tax break” may have worsened some of the area’s problems.
Codes and Standards | May 15, 2019
OSHA inspections to increase, says Secretary of Labor
Newly hired inspectors getting up to speed.
Codes and Standards | May 14, 2019
Database records more than 1,360 K-12 school shooting incidents since 1970
Naval Postgraduate School program maps locations nationwide.
Codes and Standards | May 13, 2019
In many cities, downtown housing comes with a hefty premium
Urban core living costs hundreds of thousands more in largest U.S. cities.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
San Francisco plan would require largest commercial buildings to use 100% renewable electricity
First in the U.S. mandate would be phased in from 2022 to 2030.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
ABC says best practices can improve construction companies’ safety by 680%
Daily ‘toolbox safety talks’ were most effective safety measures.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
Office noise significantly reducing employee concentration, productivity, and creativity
Workplace distractions cause some to choose to work remotely.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
WSP USA says it will be carbon neutral in 2019
Engineering firm will offset carbon at all offices and with employee business travel.
Codes and Standards | Apr 25, 2019
Report: Contractors invest $1.6 billion in workforce development annually
ABC members increased training spending 45% from 2013, according to a new report.
Codes and Standards | Apr 25, 2019
New York City’s Green New Deal would ban all-glass skyscrapers
The ambitious plan would also boost affordable housing, reduce building emissions, and update codes to account for sea level rise.
