What's happening
This bill requires affordable housing programs in New York City to base area median income on the specific zip code of the project.
Why it matters
Targets neighborhood-level affordability. By basing area median income (AMI) calculations on the specific zip code, the bill ensures that affordable housing eligibility and pricing reflect local incomes, rather than broader citywide or regional averages that can mask neighborhood disparities.
Potentially increases access for lower-income residents. In lower-income zip codes, affordable housing would become accessible to those with incomes closer to the actual local median, preventing situations where “affordable” units are still out of reach for many long-time residents.
Could influence development patterns and investment. Developers and city agencies may need to adjust project planning and funding models, as the AMI—and thus rent or sales price limits—would vary more widely between neighborhoods, potentially shifting where and how affordable housing is built.
Addresses concerns about displacement and gentrification. By tying affordability more closely to local conditions, the bill aims to help current residents remain in their communities, potentially slowing displacement caused by rising area-wide incomes or gentrification pressures.
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Who cares
New York City affordable housing administrators
The bill would require affordable housing programs initiated after it takes effect to use an area median income proportional to the ZIP code where the program is located.
Affordable housing developers in New York City
New programs would have to follow the ZIP-code-based income requirement rather than any conflicting law, rule or regulation.
New York City residents seeking affordable housing
The income benchmark used by newly initiated programs would be tied to the program’s ZIP code.
Headline styles
Use Zip Code Median Income
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
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 Zip Code Income
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Diana Richardson
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1691
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MONTGOMERY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to require all affordable housing programs in a city having a population over one million to calculate the area median income based on the zip code in which the project will be located
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, within cities having a population of one million or more, any affordable housing program initiated after the effective date of this act shall use an area median income proportional to the zip code in which the program is located.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07655-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to require all affordable housing programs in a city having a population over one million to calculate the area median income based on the zip code in which the project will be located
Purpose or general idea of bill
To advance affordable housing in New York City by requiring the use of the particular zip code's 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 zip 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 lessthan-affordable figure for measuring affordability in New York City neighborhoods.
Calculating AMI under a zip code specific framework will target afforda- bility 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.