Shanty no more

 

AMNY
 

The omnipresent restaurant curbside sheds could become a thing of the past under the city’s plans to make the pandemic-era outdoor dining initiative permanent.

The Department of Transportation’s Open Restaurants Program director told the New York City Council that the curbside eateries will be less heavily-constructed than those that restaurant owners have built outside their establishments around the Five Boroughs.

“We don’t envision sheds in the permanent program, we’re not planning for that,” said Julie Schipper during the virtual Feb. 8 oversight hearing. “What would be in the roadway is barriers and tents or umbrellas, but not these full houses that you’re seeing in the street.”

The DOT rep said that the structures were no longer necessary because people don’t have to dine outside anymore like they did early on during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Something we saw over COVID is you cannot eat indoors and so you had to eat outside in all weather, but that won’t be the case going forward,” she said. “This program is really being planned for a post-COVID scenario where you can dine outside when that feels nice and comfortable but you won’t need to be in a house on a street.”

 

 

Mayor de Blasio proposes housing fund program for basements, backyard sheds and upzoning garages

 

THE CITY

The de Blasio administration wants to make it easier for homeowners to legally add apartments in basements, atop garages — and even in backyard tiny houses — to boost affordable housing.

The plans, shared Wednesday with THE CITY, entail easing parking requirements as well as supplying low-interest loans to finance construction that would bring the new digs up to code.

“The key to unlocking more housing for New Yorkers is just below our feet,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. “Legalizing basement apartments will give homeowners a new way to make ends meet and give thousands of New Yorkers an affordable place to live.”

He’s expected to formally announce the effort Thursday during his State of the City address at the American Museum of Natural History.

The city plans to set aside $150 million in capital funds for the loans. Zoning changes woud address rules that currently require additional parking spaces for new apartments in many residential areas — action that could take at least two years, the mayor’s office indicated.

De Blasio administration officials expect at least 10,000 safe and affordable units could be added to the housing-starved city within the next decade under the proposed changes, which require City Council approval.

The new dwellings could even include “tiny homes in a backyard,” City Hall officials said, though they didn’t offer details.

The Pratt Center for Community Development estimates that New York City already has as many as 114,000 occupied basement apartments.

Will Spisak of Chhaya Community Development Corporation, a housing advocacy group, said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the new de Blasio plan.“if this really does allow for easier basement conversion experiences, and allowed folks to create accessory dwelling units on their property, this could be really transformative for a lot of homeowners,” said Spisak, the organization’s director of housing justice.