What do cellphones, the internet, lithium-ion batteries, 3D printers, virtual reality, rideshare technology and delivery apps have in common? To start, they were all invented after 1961, the year the City’s Zoning Resolution was enacted. And while these inventions fundamentally transformed how we live, work, and interact with the built world, the Zoning Resolution has simply not kept up: large portions have not been updated since 1961, now 63 years ago! Moreover, in the past four years alone the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the very fabric of how we live, work, socialize, shop, travel, and commute.
Jodi Stein, partner at Sheppard Mullin. Courtesy Photo
Luckily, this Administration recognizes that the Zoning Resolution needs a revamp. Over a year ago, Mayor Eric Adams revealed his City of Yes initiatives, a trio of legislative packages which aim to: (1) promote sustainability (the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality, which passed in December 2023); (2) update the City’s zoning tools to support economic growth and resiliency (the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity (COYEO) currently in public review); and (3) spur on the development of affordable housing (the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, which has yet to enter into public review).
Eva Schneider, associate at Sheppard Mullin. Courtesy Photo
