City of Yes: Borough-by-Borough

A summary of City of Yes zoning reform phases, specific neighborhood impacts, and restrictions/extensions for 2025

City of Yes: What Is It?

City of Yes is a multi-phase, citywide zoning reform initiative. Main goals include: enabling more affordable housing, mixed-use density, transportation upgrades, small business growth, and climate adaptation.
The plan is being implemented in three main waves: Carbon Neutrality (2023), Economic Opportunity (2024), and Housing Opportunity (2025).
Each wave brings changes citywide, but boroughs and neighborhoods often see unique implementation, carve-outs, or extra policy layering.

Main Focus: Adaptive re-use of Midtown offices (converting underused commercial space to housing), reduced parking minimums south of 96th Street, expansion of live/work and retail uses below 125th Street.
Key Adjustments: Strict historic district controls (SoHo, Greenwich Village); affordable housing bonuses prioritized for conversion projects; climate retrofits required for large properties.
Notable Restrictions:
- Chinatown and Lower East Side: Increased anti-displacement measures, requiring deep affordability in major upzonings.
- Upper East and Upper West: Most landmarked districts excluded from height/density relaxations.

Main Focus: Gentle density (two-to-four-family expansions in rowhouse zones), retail and housing overlays along Atlantic Avenue, Flatbush, and Eastern Parkway.
Neighborhood Variations:
- Williamsburg, Greenpoint: Enhanced manufacturing-to-housing conversions; waterfront resiliency mandates (elevation, flood mitigation).
- Crown Heights/Bed-Stuy: Anti-displacement zoning overlays with “right to remain” mechanisms in Black and Caribbean neighborhoods.
- Southern Brooklyn: Exclusions for low-density enclaves (Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach); more restrictive than citywide norm.

Main Focus: Small-lot infill allowed on wide transit corridors (Queens Boulevard, Northern Blvd); expansion of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family zones.
Neighborhood-Level Changes:
- Astoria/LIC: High-density mixed-use upzones near existing subway; focus on new affordable housing with anti-displacement bundles.
- Jackson Heights, Flushing: Modest upzonings, but with strong small-business/immigrant protections.
- Southeast Queens: Excluded from most multifamily expansions because of local opposition and floodplain constraints.

Main Focus: Larger development sites for subsidized affordable projects along major corridors (Grand Concourse, Third Ave, Jerome Ave), focus on climate retrofits for multifamily housing, encouragement of mid-rise apartments near transit.
Neighborhood-Level Modifications:
- South Bronx: Priority for deep affordability and job training set-asides; green infrastructure mandates (stormwater, tree canopy regs).
- Riverdale, Throgs Neck: Exclusions for low-density homeowner-dominated neighborhoods; local councilmembers won extra restrictions.

Main Focus: Small-scale ADUs in North Shore, modest multi-family overlay pilot along Hylan Blvd, but little densification elsewhere.
Notable Restrictions:
- South Shore, Mid-Island: Exempted from most changes due to historic flooding, infrastructure limits, and political opposition.
- Requirement for substantial public outreach before any upzoning is implemented.
Climate Resilience Mandates: All new construction in flood-prone zones must meet stricter elevation and floodproofing standards.

Scale of change and mix of restrictions visualized by color: Blue = Most Expansive, Yellow = Mixed, Red = Most Restricted

Manhattan: Focused on conversion and infill, but preservation overlays prevail.
Brooklyn: Most “Yes”-forward in rowhouse and postindustrial areas, but safeguard policies for at-risk communities.
Queens: Targeted upzoning near transit, wide local opposition in low-lying and single-family enclaves.
Bronx: Affordable growth clustered near major transit, with strong equity overlay and deep affordability set-asides.
Staten Island: Minimal citywide changes; heavy tailoring for flood risk and infrastructure limits.