NEW YORK (WABC) — There is a new push to address the housing crisis in New York City as Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed his plan Wednesday to make it easier for homeowners to turn extra space in their homes into rentable apartments.
Ancillary dwelling units, or ADUs, are sometimes called granny flats and can be basement apartments, attic conversions, an attached addition, a detached backyard unit or a converted garage.
Basically, they are anything that can be built on the same lot as the main house.
Mayor Mamdani announced his plans to launch an online library of pre-approved ADUs, a cost-estimator, tools to cut red tape, financing up to $395,000, and a website called ADU for You.
The city started taking applications again for the Plus One ADU Program that provides financial assistance to homeowners and pre-approved options meant to streamline the process.
“It’s certainly something that will help our broader housing challenges and it’s specifically a tool to help homeowners who are struggling, help them afford the city and age in place,” said NYC Deputy Mayor for Housing Leila Bozorg.
ADUs, whether they are built in basements or on top of garages, are not cheap. They easily cost six figures and many properties don’t quality. According to some, the rollout is short-sighted.
“More housing is great, more flexibility for homeowners is great, but if we don’t have the infrastructure to support that, it’s madness…makes no sense,” said NYC Councilmember Frank Morano.
Morano represents part of Staten Island and he wants the city to make critical investments first.
“Before we can talk about adding density, we need to add infrastructure, sidewalks, sewers, schools, mitigating traffic concerns, none of that is taken into account with the mayor’s plan,” Morano said.
And while he’s filed suit to gain more local oversight, the mayor hopes ADUs make living in New York City easier and more affordable.
“By making it easier for New Yorkers to turn their homes into an extra place for a loved one or a little more income, we’re allowing our city to grow while keeping the character of the neighborhoods we love,” Mamdani said.
In 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul tried, and failed, to pass legislation to incentivize municipalities to allow ADUs to be built in neighborhoods zoned for single families.
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