New mayor takes steps to accelerate New York City housing projects

During his first week in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued several executive orders intended to accelerate housing construction and cut costs.

Mamdani created two city task forces. One will identify city-owned land for possible housing development. The other is tasked with finding and removing housing permitting barriers that slow production and increase costs.

They mayor also ordered the establishment of “rental ripoff” hearings, public hearings for residents to testify against “illegal, unfair, abusive, deceptive, or unconscionable landlord practices.” He also ended a pause on some health and safety standards in city shelters that were enacted in 2024 while the city experienced an influx of asylum seekers.

New York City is experiencing a housing crisis with a residential vacancy rate of 1.4% — the lowest since 1968. In November, voters approved measures to streamline more affordable housing in the city.