The hazards of "strings-attached zoning," "wishful zoning," and "Hungry Hungry Hippos zoning"

Zoning is often discussed like it’s an occult force with mystical powers. I’ve spent decades overseeing New York City’s zoning, and I promise, it’s not magic. It’s an important planning tool to direct where the housing, jobs, and other facilities the city needs can be added, but its mystique can obscure important realities.

The misuse of zoning, often driven by good intentions, is a major cause of the structural housing shortage that drives up housing prices for everyone, fuels gentrification pressure, drives some New Yorkers to leave the city, and leaves others inadequately housed or homeless. Decisions that look like they should move us forward push us backward. I call this phenomenon Illusionary Zoning.

Here is a field guide to common species of Illusionary Zoning, and how government decision-makers can better use zoning with other tools to alleviate our housing crisis.

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More CHPC in the media

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Basement Conversion Plan Excludes Critical Neighborhoods

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Key Feature of NYCHA PACT: Ability to Replace Property Management

"One of the features of PACT is that there's a responsiveness that's possible in property management because an underperforming property manager can be replaced," Slatkin said. "The ultimate clients in PACT are the NYCHA residents, and at the end of day the results have to be improved conditions for NYCHA tenants."
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City of Yes reforms could reduce housing market pressure

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