What's happening
This bill requires affordable housing projects in New York to use the county-specific area median income (AMI) when determining affordability.
Why it matters
Aligns affordability standards with local incomes. By mandating use of county-specific AMI, the bill ensures affordable housing targets rents and prices to what residents in that particular county can actually afford, rather than relying on broader, often higher regional or metropolitan AMI figures.
Could increase access for lower-income residents in less wealthy counties. In counties where the median income is lower than the regional average, this change may make more units genuinely affordable for local lower-income households instead of pricing them out.
Potentially impacts developer incentives and project feasibility. Some developers may find it less profitable to build affordable units in counties with lower AMI, which could influence where new projects are proposed or how they're financed.
Addresses equity concerns in housing policy. This adjustment responds to criticisms that using regional or citywide AMI can mask significant income disparities, making “affordable” housing inaccessible to those most in need within poorer communities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Use County Median Income
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Use Local AMI for Housing
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Brian Barnwell
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4517
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 16, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to requiring affordable housing projects to calculate and only use the area median income for the specific county that the project is located in for determining affordability
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 421-a of the real property tax law is amended by adding a new paragraph e to read as follows:
e. "Area Median Income (AMI)." Whenever calculating the affordability of a project, AMI shall be based solely on the specific county where the project shall be located.
§ 2. All affordable housing projects, including, but not limited to, 421-a projects, shall only use the area median income (AMI) for the specific county that the project is located in for determining affordability.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10029-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to requiring affordable housing projects to calculate and only use the area median income for the specific county that the project is located in for determining affordability
Purpose or general idea of bill
To advance affordable housing in New York City by requiring the use of the particular county AMI in calculating Area Median Income.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 mandates that within cities with a population of one million or more, any affordable housing program shall use an AMI proportional to the county code in which the program is located.
Section 2 sets an immediate effective date.
Justification
To measure affordability, New York applies a tool known as the "area median income" (AMI) . The AMI measurement is calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The HUD AMI figures used by New York City in regard to 421(a) and other affordable housing programs are referred to as the "Metropolitan AMI" and included the 5 City's boroughs, plus Putnam county. The current configuration of the AMI calculation creates a highly skewed and less-than-affordable figure for measuring affordability in New York City neighborhoods.
Calculating AMI under a county code specific framework will target affordability to the area in which affordable housing construction occurs, and will truly reflect the "Area Median Income" of that particular project. Legislation addressing will advance the important issue of affordable housing in New York City.
Prior legislative history
This is new legislation.
Fiscal implications
There are no fiscal implications associated with this legislation.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.