Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Cuomo's New Affordable Housing Program Ditches Community Preferences
By
David Colon
Published Jul 26, 2017
Modified Jul 26, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Alliance for Tenant Power
By
David Colon
Published Jul 26, 2017
Modified Jul 26, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York State's replacement for the 421-a tax credit, a re-branded version of the program named Affordable New York, won't include any units set aside for local residents, the homeless, New York City employees, the disabled or military veterans, according to a new report.
The Affordable New York program is similar to the 421-a tax credit, except that this one offers a property tax abatement for 35 years instead of 25 years and keeps the percentage of affordable apartments in a building in the program for 40 years, up from 35 years. Another key difference, Crain's reports, is that developers won't have to include "community preferences," which usually meant half of the units set aside for locals who resided in the Community Board zone where a building went up, in addition to smaller percentages for people like military veterans and municipal employees.
The de Blasio administration also required developers receiving the credit to set units aside for residents who were recently homeless. It's unclear who removed the community preference rules surrounding the new tax credit program—the governor's office denied that they were behind the change.
Crain's noted that the Department of Housing Preservation and Development could still make their own rules about community preference under 421-a, and that this doesn't impact city-funded affordable housing developments, as 421-a is a state program.
Mayoral spokesperson Melissa Grace didn't comment directly on the missing community preference language but did tell Gothamist that the mayor's office "will continue to use the community preference as a critical anti-displacement measure in the affordable housing development that the City is financing at record pace."
Tagged
421-a
affordable housing
affordable new york
David Colon
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
News
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
NY will opt in Trump’s school choice program, Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Residents, lawmakers warned for months of potential for deadly ICE activity in Marble Hill
By
David Brand
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .