There are three affordable housing opportunities in our neighborhood currently! It’s important for you and your neighbors to be aware of all these opportunities, because these housing developments are all allocating 50% of its affordable housing units to residents of the districts the units are built in. The opportunities are at:

• 508 3rd Avenue: Learn more about the affordable housing opportunity through this flyer, and apply for the opportunity through NYC Housing Connect.
• 300 East 39th Street: Learn more about the affordable housing opportunity here, and apply for the opportunity through NYC Housing Connect.
• 200 East 23rd Street: Apply for the opportunity through NYC Housing Connect.

Please pay attention to the income ranges eligible for different apartments, as that will affect your eligibility for the apartments. Also remember to pay attention to the application deadlines.  

In preparation for a multi-month shutdown of New York City’s Delaware Aqueduct planned for later this year, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has begun slowly introducing water from the Croton system into the city’s supply of tap water. Water sourced from each system, and each reservoir within each system (our water in New York City comes from three supply systems), may taste slightly different to some people. However, DEP scientists test the City’s tap water approximately 2,000 times every single day of the year to ensure it remains safe and of the highest quality. Any New Yorkers with concerns about their tap water should report it to 311 so DEP water quality scientists can investigate. More information on the City’s water distribution system and source water can be found here. Additional information on the complex repair of the City’s Delaware Aqueduct, which conveys approximately half of the water consumed in the city each day, can be found here.

The Mayor has a City of Yes initiative. The initiative will seek to modernize and rationalize zoning rules to help the City recover more quickly from the pandemic, to create a greener city, to support small business growth, and to incentivize the creation of housing, at all levels, in all New York City neighborhoods.

There are three proposed zoning text amendments that would be part of this initiative. Here are the details on those text amendments:

• Zoning for Carbon Neutrality aims to modernize the zoning regulations in support of the City’s climate goals. The changes would focus on supporting a renewable energy grid, making our buildings clean and efficient, support for electric vehicle charging and micro-mobility options, and reducing waste and stormwater. This text amendment entered public review on April 24, 2023.
• Zoning for Economic Opportunity is focused on providing small businesses with the flexibility needed to for them to change and grow, especially as the city recovers from COVID-19. The proposals would remove unnecessary and outdated limitations on small businesses and ensure that our storefronts are occupied, and our neighborhoods remain lively spaces.
• Zoning for Housing Opportunity is a direct response to our City’s housing crisis. This seeks to ensure that every neighborhood does its part to help meet housing needs and provide equitable access to housing for all New Yorkers.

To learn more about City of Yes, visit DCP’s website here.

Flyers describing the proposals are directly available here.

You can watch footage from the first City of Yes Public Information Session here. You can also watch footage from the second City of Yes Public Information Session here. And you can view footage from the March 20th, 2023 City of Yes Public Information Session here and the March 28th, 2023 City of Yes Public Information Session here.

CB6 also passed a resolution at its February 8, 2023 Full Board meeting on the proposed Text Amendments. You can find that resolution here.

The Zoning for Carbon Neutrality Text Amendment was also presented to the New York City Planning Commission on April 24th; you can view the video with the presentation here. CB6 heard from DCP on the Text Amendment at its May 22, 2023 Land Use & Waterfront Committee, and voted “favorable” on the Text Amendment. The Text Amendment will be before our June 14, 2023 Full Board meeting.

The Zoning for Economic Opportunity Text Amendment will have public sessions on Tuesday, June 13th at 7 PM and Tuesday, July 11th at 7 PM. You can register for the June 13th information session here. We will share registration information for the July 11th information session as soon as we have it.

The CB6 Transportation Committee announced a project to reimagine a congested segment of 3rd Avenue (from 26th Street to 32nd Street) to increase the amount of sidewalk space available to pedestrians and outdoor dining alike. That way, there isn’t so much competition for tight space. CB6 commissioned Sam Schwartz Engineering to draft a concept plan for widening the sidewalks on this portion of 3rd Avenue, using a CB6 resolution as a guide. You can find Sam Schwartz Engineering’s concepts for the area here. If you live in and around the area, we’d love to hear your feedback on the project! Simply email us your thoughts at info@cbsix.org.