New York will make it easier for hotels to be converted to affordable housing "The measure will authorize hotels that are located within 400 feet of districts that allow residential housing and meet existing criteria like certificates of occupancy to operate as permanent residential spaces. At the same time, the measure will allow hotels to provide permanent housing if they reach an agreement with New York City officials or receive state financing through the Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act." (Spectrum)
More People Are Moving to Manhattan Than Before the Pandemic "The largest US city still faces a tough road ahead with overall population declining, low office return figures threatening business survival and fear of crime cited as a deterrent to moving to the city. But the data show how the most extreme migration patterns have already started to reverse, making last year’s dip seem like a pandemic-era blip." (Bloomberg CityLab)
Giant wind turbine ports prepare to transform NYC's coastal woodlands "Fourteen miles off the coast of New York, vast fields of offshore wind turbines will soon be installed in the Atlantic Ocean. Spurred by a recent $4.37 billion federal auction of more than 488,000 acres of offshore leases in the New York Bight, these wind farms will help New York realize its 2019 mandate to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030." (Gothamist)
Hochul Hints Congestion Pricing on a Slower Drive to Finish Line "MTA officials say that the federal government is asking too many questions; Gov. Kathy Hochul says maybe it’s not the right time. What is the final destination for the long-talked about plan to toll drivers coming into Manhattan’s center?" (THE CITY)
Hells Kitchen Residents Oppose Housing for HIV/AIDS Survivors Slated for MTA Parking Lot "Residents of Hells Kitchen are pushing back against an affordable housing project that would cater to survivors of HIV/AIDS because they say the units are too affordable — and want to maintain the charm of the block. In this case, a parking lot." (Streetsblog NYC)
