Mayor Mamdani Highlights Housing Production Agenda in Block by Block as Support for Plan Grows

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani highlighted key elements of the administration’s historic housing plan, Block by Block, focused on building the new housing New Yorkers urgently need.

The plan charts a path to create 200,000 new affordable homes over the next decade, including through direct investment in affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers, innovative financing tools and process reforms to help public dollars go further. It also advances an ambitious land-use agenda to create more housing of all kinds across New York City.

Block by Block is paired with a nearly $5 billion investment over the next two years for new rent-stabilized affordable housing, including dedicated commitments to affordable senior housing and supportive housing.

Support for the plan has continued to grow since its release, including endorsements from New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, four Borough Presidents, labor leaders, housing organizations and tenant advocates.

“New Yorkers deserve a housing plan that meets this crisis with ambition, scale and urgency it demands. If we want New York City to remain a place where working people can afford to live and build a future, we have to build far more housing and give New Yorkers housing options of all types, across the entire city. Block by Block is an all-of-the-above strategy to deliver the homes New Yorkers need , including 200,000 new affordable homes over the next decade,” said Mayor Mamdani.

“We cannot become a more affordable city without building a lot more housing and ensuring that every neighborhood is a part of that growth. With a historic investment in affordable housing and an ambitious land use agenda including new tools supported by voters, we can turn the tide on our housing challenges and ensure that New Yorkers have the options they need, whether they are looking to grow their family, age in place or move closer to family,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.

“Every day, rents rise and our neighbors are pushed out of this city—simply because there aren't enough homes. Fixing that means building more housing: we’re planning to create a record 200,000 affordable homes over the next decade, across every single neighborhood,” said Housing Commissioner Dina Levy. “Block by Block is an ambitious vision of a more affordable city, where every New Yorker has the chance to rent or own a home they can afford, in the neighborhood they want.”

“Block by Block recognizes that New York City’s housing shortage is driving its affordability crisis, and that meeting this moment requires ambitious land use action,” said Sideya Sherman, Director of the Department of City Planning. “By advancing neighborhood plans that mandate affordability, using new voter-approved tools like the Affordable Housing Fast Track, and unlocking more homes near transit across the city, we will give New Yorkers more housing options of all types and create a fairer, more affordable city for people to live in.”

Through Block by Block, the Mamdani administration is advancing an ambitious land-use agenda, that includes a citywide transit-oriented development proposal to meaningfully increase housing near public transit, giving New Yorkers greater access to all the city has to offer.

The plan also incorporates new land-use tools approved by voters in November that are speeding up the development of affordable housing and ensuring every neighborhood contributes to the city’s housing growth. In addition, the Mamdani administration will create New York City’s first revolving loan fund to help affordable housing financing go further and unlock private investment.

The administration is also continuing implementation of Executive Orders 4 and 5, signed on the Mayor’s first day in office, to accelerate housing development and expand affordable housing on City-owned land.

Through reforms proposed by the Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development (SPEED) Task Force – including SEQRA reform in the newly-approved state budget – the City will cut eight months from the development timeline for all affordable housing projects and as much as two years for projects requiring rezonings.

The plan also outlines strategies to maximize the use of City-owned land for both 100% affordable and mixed-income housing, including housing co-located with public facilities such as libraries and schools.

“No single tool will get our city out of its housing crisis. I commend the administration for a framework that uses so many of the tools available: recognizing that we need to not only build but preserve units, setting income-targeted affordability goals, and prioritizing investment in NYCHA. In addition, this strategy centers not only quantity, but quality – increasing the availability of HPD enforcement to correct poor conditions and supporting homeless New Yorkers as they seek permanent housing,” said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. “Meeting the scale of our housing and homelessness crisis means going borough by borough, block by block to meet the needs of both individual communities and our entire city, and I look ahead to engaging in that critical effort as this framework begins to shape our neighborhoods.”

“New Yorkers are facing a housing crisis that is pushing families out of their neighborhoods, straining working people, and making it harder for too many to see a future in the city they love,” said Comptroller Mark Levine. “Setting a goal of 200,000 new affordable homes and 200,000 preserved homes over the next decade, while making major investments in NYCHA, affordable homeownership, homelessness prevention, and faster, more cost-effective housing production, reflects the kind of comprehensive approach our city needs. I am committed to using the resources and powers of my office to address our housing crisis, and I applaud Mayor Mamdani’s commitment to tackling this crisis block by block.”

“Mayor Mamdani understands that preserving New York City’s character as a place of opportunity and creativity requires bold action on housing. I applaud the Mayor for pairing this ambitious plan with meaningful commitments to strengthen tenants’ rights and improve housing quality, and I look forward to working neighborhood-by-neighborhood to ensure Manhattan does its part to help create and preserve the affordable housing New Yorkers so desperately need,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.

“In the midst of our city’s unprecedented housing crisis, we must mobilize an unprecedented response in order put — and keep — roofs over the heads of as many New Yorkers as possible. This plan represents an incredible and intentional investment in exactly that,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Queens residents in every corner of our borough deserve affordable rent, opportunities at homeownership and to live with dignity in their NYCHA apartment. This administration not only recognizes that, but has put forth a proposal to achieve it. I couldn’t be more excited to work with the Mamdani Administration in delivering on the promise of the Block by Block plan and delivering for the countless New Yorkers in need of high-quality affordable housing.”

“New York City’s housing crisis requires a crisis-level response, and that’s precisely what Mayor Mamdani’s Block by Block delivers. From the Affordable & Efficient Code Reform Task Force which aims to drive down construction costs to a massive $5.6 billion commitment to improve conditions at NYCHA developments, Block by Block is set to harnesses all levers of government to ease pressure on the housing market and lower costs for New Yorkers,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

“At a time when we are experiencing a major housing crisis in our city, I am grateful to Mayor Mamdani for prioritizing the construction of new affordable housing, the preservation of public housing, and the expansion of homeownership opportunities for New Yorkers," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “His Block by Block: The Housing Plan for a New Era is a positive step toward ensuring our residents have the tools to live comfortably in our city as the cost of living rises for many in our communities. I also look forward to continuing to work with the Mamdani administration to support investments in affordable homeownership, especially for first-time buyers, affordable co-ops, and the creation of larger 2- and 3-bedroom apartments that allow families to stay and grow in their neighborhoods.”

“Addressing NYC affordability crisis requires bold action to build and preserve housing in every neighborhood. The Mayor’s Block by Block housing plan is an important step toward creating more opportunities for working families to stay in the communities they call home. As Chair of Land Use, I look forward to reviewing the details of this proposal and working collaboratively to deliver thoughtful, livable, and affordable housing for everyday working families,” said Council Member Kevin Riley.

“We need a hell of a lot more deeply affordable units now. There’s no reason New Yorkers should have to struggle like this just to have a safe, comfortable, livable home. That’s why I’m proud to work with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor Bozorg to invest billions in this transformative plan to make New York a city where housing doesn’t have to be a scarce resource, where we don’t need to toil for years to get buildings with deeply affordable units approved, while we preserve and improve the affordable housing that already exists,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán.

“Mayor Mamdani's Block by Block Housing Plan offers a steady foundation for creating city-level policy that will not only address the affordable housing shortage but also help generate more economic stimulus for our five boroughs. The implementation of fair wages, family-sustaining benefits, and labor standards on city-financed projects, along with the opportunity for project labor agreements, will help ensure housing development happens efficiently and provide hardworking tradesmen and tradeswomen with more pathways to a stable, middle-class career,” said Gary LaBarbera, President, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “Ensuring that New Yorkers of all backgrounds are able to afford to live, work, and thrive in the city must be a key component for any housing plan, and the Mayor understands that. The Building Trades and our members are eager to work with City Hall, the City Council, and our community partners to continue to play a role in pushing more key projects across the finish line.”

“Mayor Mamdani’s Block by Block plan takes on New York City’s housing crisis from all sides: building new affordable housing, investing in maintenance and preservation, making city government truly responsive to tenant needs, investing in NYCHA, guaranteeing labor standards, and creating programs to make home ownership more attainable for working families. Its creative, multi-faceted strategy will bring relief to a wide swath of New Yorkers,” said Manny Pastreich, President, 32BJ SEIU. “From hardworking families looking for an affordable apartment that fits a growing family, to would-be homeowners currently priced out of buying, to homeless neighbors waiting to move out of a shelter and into a permanently affordable unit – Block by Block meets the moment.”

“This comprehensive housing plan—the largest announced by any Mayor in history—is an incredible step in our fight for affordability. Our union is proud to have fought for our members to have the best wages and benefits in the country, but it’s not enough. As so many hardworking New Yorkers struggle to stay afloat with rising costs of living, this focus on creating new units and preserving public housing, combined with homeownership opportunities, will be a crucial lifeline for our city’s middle class. We are excited to stand with Mayor Mamdani as he continues to deliver on his promise to make our city a better place to live and work,” said Rich Maroko, President of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (HTC).

“Tenants organized to take back our city and elected a mayor who pledged to deliver for us, the people who make NYC run. This Housing Plan is a roadmap, and to realize its promise tenants must get organized with our neighbors and build power in our homes. The Plan leverages the tools and resources of the City to hold bad landlords accountable, fix our homes, and expand the availability of housing tenants can afford. Working hand in hand with tenants organizing in our buildings, the City will step up code enforcement – empowering tenants to win change in our living conditions, collecting fines from negligent landlords, and, in response to the worst actors, taking our homes into tenant and community control,” said Sumathy Kumar, Director, NYS Tenant Bloc. “Working in partnership with organized tenants will be the key that turns this from a plan to progress – and we won’t hesitate to push back when the City gets it wrong. With costs rising in every part of our lives, exempting distressed vacant units from the rent freeze undermines the urgent need to preserve affordable housing in our city and incentivizes landlords to kick tenants out of our homes. We know what causes sky-high rents and disrepair in our homes: landlords’ relentless drive for profit. And we know how to counter it: by getting organized to take control of our homes. In this new era of partnership between tenants and City Hall, we will put the worst landlords out of business, and win both affordable and dignified homes for working people.”

“Our movement fought for a working class budget this year which led to a multibillion dollar investment in affordable housing. A $22 billion investment in the capital budget to house New York’s working class is unprecedented and will change everyday life for thousands of New Yorkers. Cynics were skeptical democratic socialists could deliver, but the record is increasingly clear – a democratic socialist mayoralty can give power back to ordinary people,” said Gustavo Gordillo and Grace Mausser, co-chairs, NYC-DSA.

“For too long, real estate has controlled every aspect of our housing system. We thank the mayor for breaking from the status quo and standing with tenants by investing in truly affordable housing and senior housing, public housing, and tenant protections throughout the city. While we are excited by the vision, the tenant movement will continue to organize so that the implementation and longer-term rollout of the housing plan meets the scale of crisis for the 70% tenant majority. Facing the triple crisis of wartime inflation, ICE escalation, and benefit cuts in July, we must meet this unprecedented moment with unprecedented action. An organized multiracial working class is our greatest chance at securing a dignified city for all,” said Julie Xu, lead organizer, CAAAV Chinatown Tenants Union.

“We thank Mayor Mamdani for his unprecedented commitment to housing - doubling the City’s capital budget, increasing preservation funds in his first Executive Budget, and advancing an ambitious plan to SPEED new construction. The administration’s housing plan builds on that momentum with a suite of tools and resources to build and preserve 400,000 affordable homes. The new stabilization solutions to ensure the long-term preservation of our at-risk rent-stabilized housing could not come a moment too soon. CPC stands ready to partner with the Administration on this ambitious vision for the future of our city’s housing,” said Rafael E. Cestero, CEO, The Community Preservation Corporation.

“Today’s housing plan is a major step forward in confronting New York City’s housing and homelessness crisis,” said Pascale Leone, Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York. “We are especially encouraged by the Mayor’s first Executive Budget, which expands the City’s commitment to creating and preserving supportive housing to $1 billion across FY27 and FY28 – an increase of approximately 60 percent over FY24 and FY25 levels. These investments will strengthen the nonprofit-led Supportive Housing Loan Program and help stabilize aging supportive housing through the creation of a new Supportive Housing Preservation Program. We look forward to continuing to partner with the City to help implement these initiatives and advance our shared goal of ensuring every New Yorker has access to a safe, stable, and affordable home.”

“Mayor Zohran Mamdani deserves credit for his Block by Block housing plan. It lays the foundation to deliver more homes of every type, for every New Yorker, in every neighborhood. To boost production, the plan’s rezonings would allow more as-of-right development, especially near transit, and leverage newly streamlined review processes to build more housing in neighborhoods that for too long have resisted growth. Along with the excellent SPEED task force recommendations and State environmental review law, BBB will deliver more housing, more quickly,” said Andrew S. Rein, President, Citizens Budget Commission. “We are glad to see NYCHA centered in the affordable housing plan, which we have supported for nearly a decade. BBB will deliver for NYCHA residents by maximizing PACT, the Preservation Trust, and new infill development—the most viable strategies to swiftly repair and rebuild. We also applaud taking a critical look at the City’s building codes, including unique requirements for elevators and plumbing that contribute to New York having the world’s highest construction costs. These kinds of reforms are wonky but essential to the plan’s success. We look forward to reviewing the plan in full. We also look forward to the changes the Administration will make to the Mayor’s Management Report to publicly track progress; this is critical. Given the City's uncertain fiscal outlook and the challenging inflation and interest rate environment, the City should take full advantage of State and federal resources and partner with the private sector to deliver the housing that New Yorkers need.”

“Tackling New York City’s affordability challenges requires attention to a multitude of issues – from public housing to basement apartments; to the financial challenges facing both tenants and building owners; and to quantity, quality, and speed,” said Howard Slatkin, Executive Director, Citizens Housing and Planning Council (CHPC). “The Mayor’s Block by Block plan outlines a broadly inclusive agenda that aims to unite the city’s ambitions, our capacities, and our means. We look forward to working together to find new ways to sustain and grow affordability for New Yorkers.”

“NYHC congratulates the Mamdani Housing Team for putting together a thoughtful vision for building and preserving the affordable housing New Yorkers need. This plan centers the renters being crushed by housing costs and builds on proven strategies to add supply and preserve existing affordable housing. We look forward to supporting implementation of this housing plan to make NYC more affordable for all of its residents,” said Rachel Fee, Executive Director, New York Housing Conference (NYHC).

“Mayor Mamdani’s ‘Block by Block’ housing plan finally addresses the realities that Bronx tenants have been living with for decades - housing neglect, displacement pressure, rising rents and the connection between poor housing conditions and public health. For too long the Bronx has been overlooked, and this plan signals a meaningful acknowledgment that our borough deserves the same attention and resources as the rest of the city,” said Joanne Grell, Member Leader, Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA). “CASA applauds Mayor Mamdani for putting forward a groundbreaking housing plan that shows he has been listening to tenants and understands the urgency of the housing crisis in the Bronx. We look forward to working with this administration to ensure that Bronx tenants are not just reflected in this plan but are active partners in bringing it to life.”

Additional organizations expressed their support on Tuesday.

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