Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

REBNY

REBNY

  • Housing Development in New York City Slows to a Crawl as Officials Debate Tax Incentives

    Housing focus (photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)


    Affordable housing construction in New York has declined significantly in the last few years in the wake of COVID-19 through a combination of factors including higher interest rates, inflation and supply chain instability resulting from the overall disruption of the pandemic. But a key factor that real estate developers, city and state government officials, and many housing advocates cite is the expiration of the state’s 421-a property tax exemption for the construction of affordable housing as part of larger rental housing developments.

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  • Max Politics Podcast: The Push for Housing Development in New York, with Basha Gerhards of REBNY

    Housing on the board (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)


    May 11, 2023 - Max Politics Podcast: The Push for Housing Development in New York, with Basha Gerhards of REBNY

    Basha Gerhards, senior vice president of planning at REBNY, joined the show to discuss housing policy at the city and state levels, disappointment in the recent state budget agreement, and more.

    Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the show through the embedded audio below or

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  • What's The [Data] Point? $4 Billion, Resetting the Development Debate in New York City

    gov cuomo hq

    Where an Amazon HQ was to be (photo: Kevin P. Coughlin/Governor's Office)


    What's The [Data] Point? Episode 100 -- $4 billion, The Development Discussion [You can download What's The [Data] Point? wherever you get your podcasts, including on iTunes]

    As we continue our series on land use, housing, and development in New York City, we were joined by Michelle de la Uz of Fifth Avenue Committee and the City Planning

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  • Campaign Donations from Real Estate Lobby Drop Dramatically as Democrats Decline Them

    groundbreaking shovels Manhattan development

    Real estate groundbreakings may be less celebrated (photo: governor's office)


    In a few short years, real estate money has gone from the norm to “toxic” in New York State Democratic politics, with many of those who once gladly accepted thousands of dollars from the industry now pledging to take none. While there are still exceptions — including notables such as Governor Andrew Cuomo and Brooklyn Borough President and 2021 mayoral candidate Eric Adams — the overall trend is reflected in the recent June primaries for seats in the state

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  • What's the [Data] Point? 6/15, Crunch Time in Albany as Rent Regulations Expire

    whats the data point


    What's The [Data] Point? Episode 75 -- 6/15, Crunch Time in Albany as Rent Regulations Expire, with REBNY's John Banks and Assemblymember Harvey Epstein [You can download What's The [Data] Point? wherever you get your podcasts, including on iTunes]

    faceoffRent regulations impacting about 1 million New York City apartments home to 2 million people are set to expire June 15. State lawmakers and

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  • Panel Previews 2019 Rent Regulation Discussion in Albany

    rent reg agen

    (photo: Edwin J. Torres/Mayoral Photography Office)


    This is part of AGENDA 2019, a joint Gotham Gazette-City Limits project
    Find the rest of the series here

    One of the most contentious issues on the 2019 docket in Albany will be the expiring rent regulations that apply to roughly 1 million apartments in New York City and determine several ways in which rents are capped and when and by how much landlords are allowed to increase rents or remove a unit from the regulated rolls. While the

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  • As Affordability Crisis Becomes More Acute, Real Estate Donations Emerge as Litmus Test for Some Democrats

     Ocasio-Cortez Teachout

    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez & Zephyr Teachout (photo: Gotham Gazette)


    This is part of AGENDA 2019, a joint Gotham Gazette-City Limits project
    Find the rest of the series here

    Queens City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer ...

  • Calls for Public Discussion of New Affordable Housing Incentive Program

    REBNY speaker

    The REBNY gala (photo via REBNY on Facebook)


    Earlier this year developers and labor unions failed to reach a deal to renew the controversial 421-a tax abatement program that is designed to entice the development of affordable housing. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislators agreed to extend the program early last year while putting the longterm future of the program in the hands of the special interests that benefit from it--an unprecedented move that was met with loud criticism.

    With negotiations failed and the program expired, it appears that real estate

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