The Era of Shutting Others Out of New York’s Suburbs is Ending

Zoning laws in the suburbs of New York City are some of the most onerous in the nation, stifling supply with zany requirements like minimum lot sizes of two acres and a minimum house size of 2,000 square feet. Rooted in racist redlining that cemented segregation and kept Black families from owning homes, these laws perpetuate racial discrimination. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to end that with state laws that override the local zoning laws, require cities and towns to increase supply, rezone areas near subways and light rail to mandate increased density, and incentivize affordable housing. Mayors and county leaders already are giving blowback, but as the author states, “The time to build more housing is right now.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/21/opinion/housing-new-york-city.html