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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 23/09/2026

And support holds up under the opposition's best shot. We tested their argument (Albany mandates, lost local control, overcrowding) against ours. Ours won 58–39.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 23/09/2026

71% support letting empty malls and strip malls become homes, without going through a rezoning first. It clears 60% in every region of the state.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 23/09/2026

79% support allowing multi-family housing near rail stations so more people can live near public transit—often called Transit Oriented Development or TOD. Democrats, independents and Republicans all back it by wide margins.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 23/09/2026

They also back what Albany has already done. 74% support Governor Kathy Hochul's SEQRA modernization that passed this year to cut red tape and speed up housing, clean energy and transit projects. Among renters it's 88%. Now they want leaders to go further 👇

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 23/09/2026

🚨 OUR NEW POLL: New Yorkers squeezed by housing costs overwhelmingly back reforms to build more homes across the state. We commissioned Global Strategy Group to survey 600 likely voters. First reported today in @cityandstateny.bsky.social. What we found 🧵

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 16/09/2026

And we’re proud to endorse 18 incumbents across New York who have continued to champion policies to build more housing in their communities. Housing costs and shortages affect communities across New York. We’re proud to support candidates working to address that challenge across the state.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 16/09/2026

We’re proud to support Chloe Pierce for Assembly District 107! A longtime advocate and lifelong Capital Region resident, Chloe is ready to be a voice for building more homes and making New York more affordable.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 16/09/2026

For Westchester County Legislator, District 15, we’re proud to endorse Kisha Skipper! Westchester is one of the most expensive places to live in New York. Kisha has long advocated for decent, safe, and affordable housing in Westchester and is making housing affordability a focus of her campaign.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 16/09/2026

We’re proud to endorse Lisa Kaul for Senate District 39! As a Dutchess County Legislator, Lisa has made building more homes and tackling affordability central to her campaign, understanding that NYers in the Hudson Valley can’t wait for more homes.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 15/09/2026

👀 "I’m committed to transit-oriented development. This will be the embodiment of the dream to have more transit-oriented development" - @governor.ny.gov 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 12/08/2026

Think you’ve got what it takes to win Open New York Trivia Night? Join us Wednesday, August 19 at 6 PM at the ONY office for trivia, snacks, drinks, and some friendly competition!

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 22/07/2026

You don't preserve a city's character by making it impossible to build homes. You preserve it by making sure the people who work there, study there, and grew up there can still afford to live there.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 24/06/2026

Open New York had two big wins last night: @elinorthrup.bsky.social in NYC and Demond Meeks in Rochester! Plus, sixteen pro-housing incumbents are headed back to Albany. New Yorkers want real answers on the cost of living, and building more homes is one of the best we have.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 17/06/2026

The Hudson Valley is facing the same housing challenges as the rest of New York: rising costs, not enough homes, and too many people being priced out of the communities they love. That's why we're excited to endorse @Evan Menist for State Senate in District 39!

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 11/06/2026

This is great! We need housing everywhere. And the Council could more than double this by approving 460 permanently affordable units at Monitor Point this month.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 10/06/2026

Of all six candidates on the AD66 ballot, Ryder Kessler is the ONLY one who stood up for the 2025 ballot measures to speed affordable housing production — alongside champions like Zohran Mamdani, Kathy Hochul, Brad Lander, and Mark Levine. Jeannine Kiely advocated against them.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 10/06/2026

For years, Ryder has shown up at public hearings to testify FOR new affordable housing, from Tribeca to Chelsea. Those homes got built because of a chorus of pro-housing voices. He made sure his was in it.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 10/06/2026

The math of the housing crisis is simple: there aren't enough homes. Every project killed and every approval slowed shows up in your rent — and in who gets pushed out. Remember that when longtime NIMBYs who spent years blocking homes suddenly claim to see a supply crisis.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 10/06/2026

What does that record produce? Of NYC's 59 community districts, Manhattan CB2 — the board Kiely chaired — came in DEAD LAST for new housing in 2024: just 24 homes permitted, and a net LOSS once demolitions and combinations are counted.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 10/06/2026

Jeannine Kiely constantly says she "secured" 100% affordable housing at 388 Hudson. It's on her mailers. It's in her ads. It's not true.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 10/06/2026

As chair of Community Board 2, Jeannine Kiely led the 36-to-1 vote to try to kill the SoHo/NoHo rezoning — even testifying against it personally. Watch for yourself: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqhP...

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 10/06/2026

In '21, the city moved to rezone SoHo/NoHo — among the richest zip codes in the US — to allow mixed-income housing w/ ~900 permanently affordable homes. The City's fact sheet says SoHo/NoHo had ZERO income-restricted affordable housing. Zero. Jeannine Kiely fought the plan.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 10/06/2026

We trust Ryder Kessler on housing because we've watched him do the work. He's joined our efforts for years — testifying for new homes from Tribeca to Chelsea and showing up on Community Board 2. Housing is New Yorkers' #1 issue. He's earned our trust on it.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 10/06/2026

If you live in lower Manhattan and housing affordability is your top issue, vote Ryder Kessler for Assembly. He's the only candidate on the right side of solving the housing crisis. His opponent Jeannine Kiely is misleading you about her record. 🧵

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 26/05/2026

THREAD: @mayor.nyc.gov housing plan is out, and it embodies the kind of all-of-the-above approach to affordability that Open New York has long been advocating for: building more homes, preserving existing housing, protecting tenants, and using every available tool to make New York more affordable.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 05/05/2026

THREAD: Today, we’re proud to announce our 2026 endorsements for the New York State Assembly and Senate. This slate of 21 pro-housing candidates is ready to take on the housing crisis in Albany – and win.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 27/04/2026

Big news: our Executive Director @annemariegray.bsky.social has been named to City and State's NYC Power 100! 🎉🥳 This is no surprise to anyone who’s worked with Annemarie - she’s helped change what’s politically possible on housing and built ONY into a true grassroots force across the state.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 20/04/2026

Join Open New York later this week for our Member-wide Chapter Meeting! We’ll share chapter updates, project announcements, and hear from special guest Dan Garodnick, former Director of NYC Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 08/04/2026

“This endless paperwork forces beleaguered developers to sometimes return to square one on a particular aspect of the review and, as a consequence, desperately-needed housing is years delayed and significantly more expensive, serving no one, and certainly not the environment.”

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 08/04/2026

From putting a strong housing team in place to launching the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track and pushing SEQRA reform, this administration is making it clear that the housing crisis is at it's root a housing shortage. Our Executive Director Annemarie Gray on Fox 5:

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 04/04/2026

Since 1966, historic districts have steadily expanded to cover much of Lower Manhattan. As more areas are covered, new housing is effectively banned there, driving displacement and higher rents.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 02/04/2026

We fought hard for the 2021 Gowanus rezoning, and it’s continuing to deliver beyond all expectations. Great to see more homes and more open space on the way!

Tweet from @NYCPlanning:
1,000+ new homes are coming to Gowanus!

The City Planning Commission today approved bulk + design modifications to enable 175 Third St. — a project with 270 affordable homes, commercial space and public open space along the Gowanus Canal.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 01/04/2026

Be honest… does ANYONE actually use these words in real life? 🤣 Floor area ratio Dwelling unit factor Accessory off-street parking Sky exposure plane Sliver law Rear yard equivalent Open space ratio ULURP Bulk waiver Narrow street Special permit Certificate of appropriateness

Be honest… does ANYONE actually use these words in real life? 🤣

Bamboozled
Flabbergasted
Discombobulated
Shenanigans
Cattywampus
Lollygag
Malarkey
Kerfuffle
Brouhaha
Nincompoop
Skedaddle
Tomfoolery
Flibbertigibbet
Pumpernickel

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 31/03/2026

The current 12-game Jeopardy champion works at an affordable housing finance agency in NJ, and shamed New York for not building more housing: "NJ's doing really well, we're ahead of NY, CT, PA. If you're from one of those states, shame on you, build more housing."

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 26/03/2026

Live view of this empty lot from one of our staff who lives blocks away. Housing coming soon!

Picture of an empty lot in Crown Heights, with the Franklin Ave S train tracks on the left, and two MTA trucks parked.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 26/03/2026

This lot is literally touching the Franklin Ave S train. It's exactly where we should be building more housing to address our affordability and climate crises. Modernizing SEQRA could help make it easier to build housing in places like this.

Satellite image - A property bound by Atlantic Ave, Pacific Street, and the Franklin Ave Shuttle.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 26/03/2026

300+ homes are coming to an MTA parking lot in Crown Heights! This is a perfect example of how the City and State can work together to solve this crisis—thanks to a rezoning last summer by @chiosse.bsky.social @cmcrystalhudson.bsky.social, housing will get built by @governor.ny.gov and @mta.info.

Google maps image of a parking lot in Crown Heights

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 25/03/2026

This housing boom was possible due to a combination of liberal zoning, favorable tax policy (LVT-inspired), and an expanding transit network that opened new areas of the city to housing. Post-1961 zoning means that many of those buildings from the 1920s couldn't be built today.

Housing Across NYC
Green - Built between 1920 - 1933
Red - Built between 2010 - Present

The map is overwhelmingly green. Bits of red on the west side of Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront. Lots of green in Southern Brooklyn, Western and Eastern Queens, upper Manhattan, and the Bronx.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 25/03/2026

Great chart in here showing how far NYC housing production is today from historic highs 100 years ago. We've faced an enormous housing shortage before. We built over 740,000 homes in a decade and it worked, bringing rents down by 30%.

New Housing Units Completed in New York City, 1921-2023
All housing types, five boroughs. Shaded region indicates estimated period (1945-64) interpolated from Census decennial counts.

Graph shows a huge peak in the 1920s (70-110k units/year), and lower numbers in the succeeding decades (mostly 10-25k units/year)

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 24/03/2026

New Yorkers aren't moving to Florida and New Jersey because they'd rather live there. They're moving because the housing is more affordable. Per capita, NJ builds almost twice as many homes as NY. Florida builds 3x more.

Jay Parsons
@jayparsons
·
Mar 23
Renters relocating from California prefer Texas and Nevada.

Renters relocating from New York prefer Florida and New Jersey.

Interesting data from Apartment List.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 24/03/2026

There's a lot in here about "neighborhood character", but not much about how the neighborhood character changes when the rents are $5000.

96-00
GENERAL PURPOSES
LAST AMENDED
1/19/2005

The "Special Clinton District" (hereinafter also referred to as the "Special District"), established in this Resolution, is designed to promote and protect public health, safety, general welfare and amenity. Because of the unique geographical location of the Clinton community, situated between the waterfront on the west and a growing central business district on the east, it is necessary to provide specific programs and regulations which will assure realization of community and citywide goals.

These goals include, among others, the following:

(a) to preserve and strengthen the residential character of the community;

(b) to permit rehabilitation and new construction within the area in character with the existing scale of the community and at rental levels which will not substantially alter the mixture of income groups currently residing in the area;

(c) to preserve the small-scale character and variety of existing stores and activities and to control new commercial uses in conformity with the existing character of the area;

(d) to recognize the unique character of the eastern edge of the District as an integral part of the Theater Subdistrict within the Special Midtown District as well as the Special Clinton District;

(e) to provide an appropriate transition from the mixed-use character along Eighth Avenue to the lower-scale residential character of the Clinton community on the narrow streets;

(f) to relate the unique character of the 42nd Street Perimeter Area to the adjacent Special Hudson Yards District;

(g) to provide amenities, such as street trees, to improve the physical environment;

(h) to restrict demolition of buildings that are suitable for rehabilitation and continued residential use; and

(i) to promote the most desirable use of land in the area and thus to conserve the value of land and buildings, and thereby protect the City's tax revenues, consistent with the foregoing purposes.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 24/03/2026

The Special Clinton District was founded on the (discredited) idea that not building housing would preserve affordability. Instead, it's done the opposite, taking one of the last affordable neighborhoods in Manhattan below 59th and driving up rents.

Map pointing to the Special Clinton District covering Hell's Kitchen

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 23/03/2026

New shared housing can provide affordable homes for young adults while creating new friendships and social connections. Once the city revises building code to allow for these, we're going to see new shared housing built for the first time in 70+ years.

SHARED HOUSING
(including private and shared spaces)
Shared housing consists of two or more independently occupied rooms that share living facilities, like bathrooms and kitchens. This example looks similar to an apartment, but the tenants in each rooming unit hold individual leases and have locks on their doors. This is one of many possible layouts for shared housing.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 23/03/2026

New York had these—until we banned them in the 1950s and with the 1961 citywide downzoning. In 2024, City of Yes brought shared housing back, and it’s a great option that’s naturally affordable for young people.

Tweet from Ellen Pasternack @pastasnack_e - Mar 21
Lots of people's social & romantic lives could be vastly improved if it was normal for young adults to live in college dorm-style accommodation in city centres until they were ready to set up home properly. Why doesn't this exist? I think there would be a market for it!

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 17/03/2026

Just a 20 minute drive away is Hale Creek Preserve, a planned affordable senior housing complex in downtown Johnstown. In a town with a 2-year senior housing waitlist, it would create 64 affordable homes for seniors on a municipal parcel with two disused storage sheds.

An empty storage lot in a satellite photo

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 17/03/2026

At 627 Lily Lake Rd in Fulton County, this house sits on 7 acres of freshly-cleared forest land on a 126 acre lot. It also has a 5,000 sqft accessory garage. Because SEQRA presumes that single-family homes have no significant environmental impact, no review was necessary.

The red property line has been cleared of forest and a large home has been built

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 17/03/2026

This is "Camp Red Oak" in Lake Placid. It was built in 2022, and you can rent it on Airbnb. 30 years ago, this entire area was untouched forest. By 2014, roads were built for a new subdivision. Then acres of forest were cleared to build these—no SEQRA review required.

Black and white satellite photo of forest

A subdivision is built, with multiple large houses and cleared area.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 17/03/2026

Hamilton County is the fastest-growing in the state by far. It permitted 8.7 homes per 1,000 residents annually over the last decade—95% of them single-family, at 8.3 per 1,000. Not a single building over five units was permitted in the last decade.

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