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City Charter Revision: Where Land Use Fits In

Issue Brief last updated March 10, 2010

Mayor Bloomberg has announced the appointment of a City Charter revision commission. While its review of term limits may initially grab the most attention, the commission will be looking at something else just as vital to the city’s future: land use and the process through which property owners, residents and the government decide what gets built in New York City.

The new Pratt Center issue brief "City Charter Revision: Where Land Use Fits In" outlines the major land use challenges the new commission must confront: 

  • The City Planning Commission has ceased to plan
  • The City Charter's aspiration to community-based planning has not been fulfilled 
  • Attempts to promote "fair share" of burdens have fallen short
  • Side agreements to land use decisions have proliferated without disclosure or enforcement

A renewed and independent role for the City Planning Commission, substantive support for community-based planning, an updating of fair-share to meet current realities, and disclosure and enforcement for side agreements are all essential measures for the new City Charter commission to implement.

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Markham Gardens Houses

Past Project last updated January 4, 2010

Preserving Affordable Housing on Staten Island

The Markham Gardens Tenant Association – representing the tenants in a 360-unit public housing development in West Brighton, on the north shore of Staten Island – approached the Pratt Center for assistance in the winter of 2004. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) had announced plans to demolish the low-rise, garden-style buildings and replace them with 270 units of affordable rental and homeownership housing that would be developed and operated by a private owner.

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Affordable Housing Not Included

Media last updated October 13, 2009

Press Source

  • Gotham Gazette

Press Date

  • October 5, 2009

Press Link

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Community Voices and the Future of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area

Report last updated September 15, 2009

Community Voices and the Future of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area Report

SPURA Matters is a yearlong initiative facilitated by nonprofit community organizations that wished to renew a community conversation about the redevelopment of the long-vacant Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (SPURA) site on the Lower East Side. Over several months in late 2008 and early 2009, the initiative consulted with local stakeholders to engage them in a dialogue about community needs and potential uses for the site. After decades of controversial development proposals that never went anywhere, SPURA Matters strove to get stakeholders talking about how the site could be developed in a way that benefits the surrounding community. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to help start a community-driven process to put the site back into a broadly productive use.

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New York City Seeks to Turn Condos into Affordable Housing

Media last updated July 20, 2009

Press Source

  • Wall Street Journal

Press Date

  • July 8, 2009

Press Link

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Multifamily Housing Energy Efficiency

Page last updated July 1, 2009

Update on 8/10/2009

Effective immediately, the Multifamily Performance Program will be temporarily suspended to new projects in light of NYS Public Service Commission Order in CASE 08-E-1132. The Commission Order requires NYSERDA to revise program rules before approving new Applications or signing new Participation Agreements.

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Retrofit Basics

Page last updated July 1, 2009

What does a building energy retrofit include? These are the places to look for potential savings in energy use and expense and that you would expect to find in an energy audit or retrofit of your building. 

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Reforming NYC's 421-a Property Tax Exemption Program

Project last updated June 3, 2009

The Pratt Center has played a pivotal role in reforming the 421-a tax abatement, available to developers in certain zones of New York City who sponsor the creation of affordable housing, to expand the program's reach beyond central Manhattan. Former director Brad Lander served on a mayoral task force evaluating options for reform of the program, which cost New York City $400 million in 2006 even while many developers receiving the benefit were not obligated to produce affordable housing in exchange.

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Gowanus Summit: Responsible Development

Project last updated June 3, 2009

The Pratt Center has helped  convene the Gowanus Summit; a coalition of civic, housing and community development, manufacturing, and labor groups to establish ground rules for the area surrounding Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal. Our work there aims to make sure that new development meets the needs of area residents and sets high standards for local quality of life.

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Energy-Efficient Neighborhoods

Project last updated June 3, 2009

Greening the Places Where New Yorkers Live, Work, Play, Learn and Worship

The Pratt Center for Community Development works with block and civic associations, community boards, religious associations and community-based organizations to make neighborhoods more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  

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