On Monday Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of City Planning director and City Planning Commission chair Dan Garodnick announced the launch of “Green Fast Track,” an environmental review process aimed at accelerating the approval process for small- and medium-sized housing projects. The initiative is part of the administration’s “Get Stuff Built” plan, which seeks to cut red tape and streamline processes to increase housing availability.
Green Fast Track is designed to support the city’s housing and climate goals by facilitating the approval of climate-friendly housing projects. By reducing the time and cost associated with the environmental review process, the initiative is anticipated to save qualifying projects up to two years and $100,000.
To qualify for Green Fast Track, projects must be under 250 or 175 units based on their zoning, use all-electric heating, and meet standards for proximity to hazardous materials, ambient noise, and industrial emissions. They must also be outside coastal areas that are considered vulnerable to climate related risk. Projects exceeding 250 feet in height or located near natural resources, open spaces, or historical areas have stricter approval criteria.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in our efforts to address New York City’s housing crisis and exemplifies our commitment to efficient governance,” said Sheena Wright, first deputy mayor. “The Green Fast Track initiative builds on the significant action we have already taken to address our city’s housing and affordability crisis. Under the Adams administration, we financed a record number of affordable homes in 2023. We aim to beat our own records, and initiatives like the Green Fast Track will help us do so. This innovative approach will cut unnecessary red tape and pave the way for more efficient development, ensuring a more sustainable future for all New Yorkers.”
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I wish people would think in terms of at-cost housing instead of “affordable.” Every occupied apartment in the city is “affordable” to someone. Having a few apartments in a building that have to be subsidized by other tenants simply raises costs for others.
The US was in a similar situation following the Depression and WWII. Part of the National Housing Act was the establishment of non-subsidized co-ops which never cost the government a cent. These have lower prices than condos, locally, about $400k for 2 bedrooms with a monthly charge of about $1k including all taxes and utilities. This is about half or a third of local rents. Of course, not everyone can afford the purchase price and these become trapped in high-cost rentals.
“save qualifying projects up to two years and $100,000”
So housing projects approvals take more than 2 years and well over $100k to permit? This is ridiculous! I’ve worked with permit approvals in other states that only require a matter of months and several thousand dollars. Is it any wonder NYC is so expensive when government makes development so needlessly difficult?
“Green Fast Track” is a prime example of Orwellian doublespeak from Adams & his financial backers. Green? Really? How DARE we not embrace the City of Yes vision of an ever more congested New Calcutta? Too much is never enough! YES In My Back Yard! In fact, who even NEEDS back yards?…or parks, or open spaces, or sunlight or fresh air? Pack us into our pens ever more tightly, just like the factory-farm animals whose suffering & sad lives we so conveniently ignore. Perhaps it’s all Karma…
Uh huh
I’m going to break into your house tonight and rearrange all of your ports and pans.