The ultimate days of the Adams administration have been busy. Right here’s a change that slipped beneath the radar.
Understandably, the flurry of mayoral vetoes alongside last-minute drama on the Hire Pointers Board garnered plenty of consideration on the finish of Mayor Eric Adams’ time in workplace.
However the administration additionally made some adjustments to environmental overview, probably making it just a little simpler for sure housing tasks to maneuver ahead.
As a part of updates to the Metropolis Environmental High quality Overview (CEQR) Technical Handbook final month, the administration permitted sure housing tasks to finish a shorter Environmental Evaluation Assertion (EAS), which generally takes six to eight months.
This transformation builds on the Inexperienced Quick Observe adopted by the administration in 2024. Underneath that program, housing tasks with fewer than 175 models in low-density districts or 250 models in medium- or high-density districts might keep away from environmental overview.
However tasks with site-specific points (resembling these regarding air high quality, coastal flooding, noise or hazardous supplies) couldn’t qualify. The adjustments final month enable tasks that meet the density threshold beneath the Inexperienced Quick Observe, however can’t qualify as a result of site-specific points, to finish a shorter EAS.
Town’s capacity to deal with environmental review-related delays is restricted. Extra in depth adjustments require state motion. State lawmakers have beforehand proposed exempting giant inexpensive housing tasks from environmental overview, which handed within the Senate final 12 months however died in committee within the Meeting.
However main change could possibly be on the way in which. As a part of her State of the State tackle, Gov. Kathy Hochul is predicted to suggest exempting a majority of housing tasks from state environmental overview, the Wall Street Journal reports. She additionally needs to set a two-year most for tasks that should bear overview.
What we’re interested by: What different housing-related insurance policies will Hochul prioritize in her State of the State tackle on Tuesday? Ship a observe to kathryn@therealdeal.com.
A factor you’ve discovered: Nonprofit New Future Housing is asking on the state to allocate $62.1 million to New York’s supportive housing program on this 12 months’s finances. Final 12 months’s finances included a $17.8 million enhance (40 %) in funding for the New York State Supportive Housing Program, representing the most important funding in 40 years. In an announcement, the nonprofit indicated that the governor must construct on this funding on this 12 months’s finances.
Elsewhere in New York…
— Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his spouse, Rama Duwaji, have moved into Gracie Mansion, the New York Times reports.
— Roughly 15,000 nurses walked out of metropolis hospitals on Monday after their union, the New York State Nurses Affiliation, and several other main hospital programs failed to achieve an settlement over staffing ranges, advantages and different points, Associated Press reports. The hospitals stay open and have employed momentary nurses throughout the strike.
— Mamdani on Monday named Rafael Espinal, who previously served on the Metropolis Council and the state Meeting, as the brand new commissioner of the Mayor’s Workplace of Media and Leisure.
Closing Time
Residential: The highest residential deal recorded Monday was $24.5 million for a condominium unit at 730 Fifth Avenue. The Midtown rental is 3,700 sq. toes. The Corcoran Group’s Connor Cuccinelli and Noble Black have the itemizing.
Industrial: The highest business deal recorded was $53 million for 63 Crosby Avenue. The Soho landmark constructing is 32,400 sq. toes. Workplace funding firm Vertex bought the five-story constructing, per reports.
New to the Market: The very best value for a residential property hitting the market was $13.9 million for 25 East 94th Avenue. The Higher East Facet townhouse is 8,200 sq. toes. Compass’ The Doyle Staff has the itemizing.
Breaking Floor: The biggest new constructing allow filed was for a proposed 21,386-square-foot, eight-story residential constructing at 651 Myrtle Avenue in Bedford Stuyvesant. S. Wieder Architect is the applicant of report.
— Joseph Jungermann
