UTA on Albany’s Changes in Affordable Housing Zoning

The Albany Common Council held a hearing Monday night on a potential amendment that would ease the city’s affordable housing requirements for new construction. The Mayor’s proposal would decrease the percentage of affordable units required to be set aside in new construction from a maximum of 13% to 5%. The plan also raises the affordability threshold from 60 to 70% of the area median household income . Under the proposal, developers of new buildings can choose to pay the city $50,000 per unit to avoid the affordable housing requirement. Canyon Ryan of United Tenants of Albany expressed concerns, saying that rather than catering our housing policies to luxury and high-income developers we should address low-income tenants that need affordable housing.” Canyon talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.