New housing initiatives in Biden's American Jobs Plan mean help for NYC, and maybe indirectly for projects like Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park

President Joe Biden yesterday proposed The American Jobs Plan, aimed to "create millions of good jobs, rebuild our country’s infrastructure, and position the United States to out-compete China."

It contains an enormous number of provisions, surely to be debated and revised in Congress, but notably it contains a section related to housing, proposing $213 billion to "Build, preserve, and retrofit more than two million homes and commercial buildings to address the affordable housing crisis."

What this means to New York City, and projects like Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park, is unclear--the document cites "targeted tax credits, formula funding, grants, and project-based rental assistance"--but even if direct assistance is not available, it could lessen pressure on city and state resources, leaving more left for such projects.

As to "Build and rehabilitate more than 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income homebuyers," notably in "underserved communities" thanks to a new tax credit, this could apply to AY/PP only if they were to resurrect vague--and non-mandated--plans for "affordable" condos.

The proposal also aims to "[e]liminate exclusionary zoning and harmful land use policies," using incentives to entice such jurisdictions. The exclusionary New York City suburbs, even near transit hubs, are of course a major reason why there's been such pressure to maximize land use in the city.

The proposal also includes $40 billion for public housing, where New York has enormous needs.

The NYC reaction

In a statement, Mayor Bill de Blasio said:

"A recovery for all of us requires strong federal investments in infrastructure and jobs. President Biden meets the moment with the American Jobs Plan, which includes investments critically important to New York City including billions for public housing, transit, broadband and workforce development. This plan also treats climate change as the urgent crisis that it is, with new opportunities to create green jobs and make our cities more resilient. I thank President Biden for his leadership and look forward to working with our partners in Congress to get this done."

Thoughts from Slate

In an exchange yesterday, We’re Kind of Overwhelmed by Biden’s Infrastructure Plan, Slate's Henry Grabar and Jordan Weissman discussed the proposals, "designed to fix the country’s crumbling roads and bridges, speed the transition away from carbon, fund research and development in high-tech industries, provide home care for the elderly and disabled, and, well, the list goes on."

They note that the public housing provision "is going to make the New York delegation’s collective heart sing" and that the end of parking requirements--a policy that's moved ahead in New York City--will ease apartment construction.

Grabar suggests that "lead abatement and elder care are both, in their way, investments in affordable housing," while Weissman says the end of exclusionary zoning "would be a huge victory for the YIMBYs."