Kathy Hochul

Hochul announces budget agreement, with ‘landmark’ housing deal

Photo by Mike Groll/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

April 16, 2024

Hochul announces budget agreement, with ‘landmark’ housing deal

By Devin Gannon

State lawmakers reached a "conceptual" agreement on the 2025 budget on Monday, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who hosted a celebratory press conference touting the deal. Since the bills have not been printed yet, details remain scarce. However, according to the governor, the $237 billion budget, now over two weeks late, includes "landmark" policies to address the dire housing crisis statewide, particularly in New York City. Hochul announced efforts to boost housing production, including a new tax break to succeed 421-a, and protect tenants, with the framework for "good cause" eviction included in the deal.
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Policy

Hochul deploys National Guard and state police to check bags, patrol NYC subway

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 6, 2024

Hochul deploys National Guard and state police to check bags, patrol NYC subway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday said she would deploy roughly 1,000 National Guard and New York State Police members to patrol the New York City subway system and help officers check bags for weapons. The additional personnel, which includes 750 National Guard members and 250 members of the state police and MTA police department, are meant to make riders feel safe following several recent high-profile assaults in the transit system.
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Hochul wants to make it easier to shut down New York’s illegal smoke shops

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

February 29, 2024

Hochul wants to make it easier to shut down New York’s illegal smoke shops

By Aaron Ginsburg

In response to the thousands of illegal smoke shops operating in the state, with an estimated 8,000 in New York City alone, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to make it easier to close illicit cannabis stores. On Wednesday, the governor proposed streamlining the state's Office of Cannabis Management's (OCM) ability to obtain court orders to padlock stores and permit the orders to be executed by local authorities. According to Hochul, the unregulated stores not only undermine the legal marijuana market but also pose health risks to customers.
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Transit

Open gangway subway cars are now in service on the C line

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 2, 2024

Open gangway subway cars are now in service on the C line

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City subway system's new open gangway cars have officially hit the rails. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday participated in an inaugural ride of the open gangway subway cars which are in service on the C line between Washington Heights and East New York. The ride marked the first time in modern history that an open gangway train, already used in major European and Asian cities, has operated in the United States.
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New York has big plans for the state’s first total solar eclipse in 99 years

Image courtesy of NASA/Goddard/Rebecca Roth on Flickr

January 11, 2024

New York has big plans for the state’s first total solar eclipse in 99 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York is going all out for its first total solar eclipse in 99 years. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday revealed the state's plans for the April 8 total eclipse, when the moon will pass between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun and turning day to night for up to four minutes. Five regions in New York will experience the path of totality, including the Adirondacks, Greater Niagra, Chautauqua-Allegheny, Thousand Islands-Seaway, and the Finger Lakes. Other parts of the state outside of the path, like New York City and Long Island, will see a partial eclipse.
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Events & Things To Do

Hochul calls for replacement and extension of 421-a tax abatement in NYC

Photo courtesy of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

January 10, 2024

Hochul calls for replacement and extension of 421-a tax abatement in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

As housing production in New York City hits new lows, Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling once again for a replacement of the 421-a tax abatement program that expired in 2022. During her 2024 State of the State address on Tuesday, the governor said she plans to introduce legislation permitting the city to offer a tax break to developers of new rental construction, as well as an extension of the completion deadline of the expired program. Hochul's previous proposals to replace the program in 2022 and 2023 failed to move forward.
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Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway west into Harlem

The 96th Street subway station on Second Avenue Subway when it opened in 2017. Photo by Charley Lhasa on Flickr.

January 9, 2024

Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway west into Harlem

By Devin Gannon

The Q train may go even further. During her State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul backed a plan to extend the Second Avenue Subway west along 125th Street with three new stops at Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue, and Broadway. The announcement comes as construction prepares to kick off on the second phase of the line, bringing the Q line up to 125th Street in East Harlem.
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Self-filtering floating pool pilot to be installed in NYC this summer

+POOL Rendering, 2024. Designed by Family New York & Playlab, Inc. Image by proto.

January 5, 2024

Self-filtering floating pool pilot to be installed in NYC this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will test the waters of a self-filtering floating pool this summer. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Friday committed $16 million to the nonprofit +POOL, which has worked for over a decade to build a swimming pool in the East River. The group plans to launch a pilot pool to demonstrate and test +POOL's unique filtration system this summer, with the hopes of opening to swimmers in 2025. The news comes as part of a larger proposal from the governor to expand access to swimming across the state.
DIVE IN

7 historic places in NYC recommended for state and national designation

William Ulmer Brewery, at the corner of Belvidere Street and Beaver Street, Brooklyn (ca. 1920). Image courtesy of DXA Studio

January 2, 2024

7 historic places in NYC recommended for state and national designation

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced the 36 properties and places in New York nominated for potential placement on the State and National Register of Historic Places. The seven New York City recommendations include Bushwick's historic William Ulmer Brewery, the city's first cast-iron office building, and a new historic district in Central Harlem that illustrates the neighborhood's development as a Black working-class residential neighborhood.
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New York to spend $50M restoring single-room occupancy units

An SRO in the famous Chelsea Hotel, featured in a 2018 6sqft story. Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft.

December 13, 2023

New York to spend $50M restoring single-room occupancy units

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York is paying landlords to renovate and repair single-room occupancy (SRO) apartments as a way to provide housing for vulnerable New Yorkers. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced $50 million will be spent to rehabilitate up to 500 existing SROs across the state. Units in SRO buildings usually include one room with a sink and stove and access to a shared bathroom. A common type of housing in New York City until the second half of the 20th century, SROs cost less than the average apartment and appeal to low-income renters or those struggling with homelessness.
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Popular Articles

Hochul unveils plan to bring 2,800 homes to underused Creedmoor campus in eastern Queens

Image via WikiCommons

December 7, 2023

Hochul unveils plan to bring 2,800 homes to underused Creedmoor campus in eastern Queens

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday released the Creedmoor Community Master Plan, a proposal to redevelop 58 acres of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center campus in Queens into a mixed-use community with over 2,800 homes, green space, bike infrastructure, retail, and amenities. State-owned Creedmoor has operated as a mental health center since 1912 and hit its peak patient population of 7,000 in 1959. Today, a majority of the campus sits vacant. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Empire State Development (ESD), along with the Metropolitan Urban Design Workshop, developed the master plan over six months.
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See plan to replace former Harlem prison next to Central Park with 105 affordable homes

All renderings courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office

December 6, 2023

See plan to replace former Harlem prison next to Central Park with 105 affordable homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to replace a former Harlem prison with affordable housing is moving forward. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday unveiled Seneca, the winning proposal for a project that will transform the Lincoln Correctional Facility at West 110th Street, which shuttered in 2019, into 105 affordable homes for purchase. The governor selected a team led by Infinite Horizons, L+M Development Partners, Urbane, and Lemor Development Group to develop the roughly $90 million project, which will go through a public review process before final approval.
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Second Avenue Subway extension to East Harlem gets funding boost from Biden administration

Image courtesy of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

November 6, 2023

Second Avenue Subway extension to East Harlem gets funding boost from Biden administration

By Aaron Ginsburg

The plan to extend the Q train to East Harlem received a funding boost this weekend. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Saturday announced a $3.4 billion federal grant for the Second Avenue Subway extension, covering nearly half of the project's estimated total cost of $7.7 billion. The plan will extend the Q by 1.8 miles and connect its current endpoint at 96th Street on the Upper East Side to 125th Street in Harlem, with fully accessible stations between them at 106th and 116th Streets.
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Construction officially begins on Hudson River tunnel project

Photo courtesy of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office on Flickr

November 3, 2023

Construction officially begins on Hudson River tunnel project

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work to replace a decaying rail tunnel under the Hudson River is moving ahead after receiving $3.8 billion in federal funding. Gov. Kathy Hochul, United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Chuck Schumer and other officials on Friday announced the start of the first phase of the $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project, part of the Gateway Program. This early phase of the project will create concrete casings for trains to travel under the Hudson River and through to Pennsylvania Station and will raise a section of road in New Jersey that will feed into the mouth of the new tunnel.
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Supportive housing development for homeless LGBTQ young adults opens in Harlem

Image courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

October 25, 2023

Supportive housing development for homeless LGBTQ young adults opens in Harlem

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new housing development with supportive services for LGBTQIA+ young adults opened in Harlem this week. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced on Tuesday the completion of Homeward Central Harlem, a residential project with 50 apartments and on-site services provided by Homeward NYC, a non-profit that provides housing and support for homeless New Yorkers. The nine-story building at 15 West 118th Street will offer counseling, case management, group activities, skills-building programs, and connections to community resources.
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Affordable Housing

New York approves three offshore wind projects in historic renewable energy investment

Photo courtesy of (vincent desjardins) on Flickr

October 25, 2023

New York approves three offshore wind projects in historic renewable energy investment

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York is making the largest-ever state investment in renewable energy in the United States. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the state has awarded contracts for three new offshore wind farms that are expected to generate 4,032 megawatts of clean energy, lowering CO2 emissions by more than 7 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of removing 1.6 million cars from the road annually. The wind projects paired with 22 land-based renewable energy projects will create enough clean energy to power 2.6 million homes in New York, or 12 percent of the state's electricity needs.
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Policy

Major flooding disrupts NYC subway service as Hochul and Adams declare state of emergency

A 2018 storm. Photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office.

September 29, 2023

Major flooding disrupts NYC subway service as Hochul and Adams declare state of emergency

By Devin Gannon

Nearly every subway line is experiencing service disruptions on Friday morning as extreme rainfall and flooding slam New York City. In a post on X, formerly called Twitter, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said "there is only extremely limited subway service," with several lines suspended or partially suspended due to water on the tracks. In response to the heavy rainfall and extreme flooding, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday declared a state of emergency for New York City, the Hudson Valley, and Long Island.
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Policy

New York seeks proposals transforming Chelsea prison into affordable housing

Streetview of 550 West 20th Street © 2023 Google

September 27, 2023

New York seeks proposals transforming Chelsea prison into affordable housing

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York State is moving forward with a plan to transform a former prison in Chelsea into affordable housing. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced a request for proposals (RFP) to redevelop the Bayview Correctional Facility at 550 West 20th Street into a residential development with affordable and supportive housing. The proposals for the 100,000-square-foot site near the High Line must have a minimum of 60 supportive housing units and 15 short-term transitional residences, according to the RFP.
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Work on Hudson River rail tunnel project could begin next month

President Biden joined Mayor Eric Adams in January 2023 to discuss the Hudson River Tunnel Project. Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

September 12, 2023

Work on Hudson River rail tunnel project could begin next month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work is finally moving forward on a project that will replace a dilapidated, century-old rail tunnel connecting New York City and New Jersey. The Gateway Development Commission on Monday awarded the first contracts for construction on the New Jersey side of the $16.1 billion two-track Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP), with the first phase of the transformative plan expected to break ground as soon as October. The tunnel project is the main component of the $30 billion plan, the country's largest public works project currently underway.
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New York to prioritize ‘pro-housing’ localities for $650M in funding

Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash

August 31, 2023

New York to prioritize ‘pro-housing’ localities for $650M in funding

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York is moving forward with a plan to spur housing development across the state. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday officially launched the Pro-Housing Communities Program, an effort that will prioritize up to $650 million in funding to localities across New York that are committed to creating housing. As part of the initiative, certified Pro-Housing Communities will have priority over other localities when applying for funding through the program, which has begun accepting applications.
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Policy

Feds approve asylum seeker shelter at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field

Photo via Wikimedia

August 22, 2023

Feds approve asylum seeker shelter at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field will be home to New York City's latest migrant shelter. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a deal was reached for the federal government to provide New York State with a proposed lease of the former naval air station in Marine Park. The governor said the new Humanitarian Emergency Relief and Response Center (HERRC) will be able to house up to 2,000 single adult asylum seekers. While the governor initially requested that the federal government pick up the bill for constructing and staffing the shelter, the state agreed to cover the expenses, according to Gothamist.
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Policy

Redevelopment of historic armory in the Bronx moves forward

Photo courtesy of Darren McGee/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

August 8, 2023

Redevelopment of historic armory in the Bronx moves forward

By Aaron Ginsburg

Plans to redevelop the historic Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx have been revived after nearly three decades of discarded plans. Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday said a request for proposals will be issued next month to develop the landmark, which was built for military use in 1917 and has been largely vacant since the 1990s. In addition to a combined $200 million investment from the city and state, Adams and Hochul unveiled the "Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan," which includes the goals of the project as envisioned by the community and local stakeholders. With proposals due by the end of the year, construction could begin in 2027.
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Policy

400 units of affordable housing approved for 5 World Trade Center

Renderings of 5 World Trade Center courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

July 27, 2023

400 units of affordable housing approved for 5 World Trade Center

By Devin Gannon

The 900-foot-tall mixed-use skyscraper planned for 5 World Trade Center will include 400 units of affordable housing, a slight increase from the original proposal. After stalled negotiations, the Public Authorities Control Board on Thursday approved the mixed-use development at 130 Liberty Street, which calls for 1,200 new apartments, one-third of which will be permanently affordable to New Yorkers earning between 40 and 120 percent of the area median income. Plus, 20 percent of the affordable apartments will be offered to individuals who lived or worked in the neighborhood on September 11, including first responders and families of victims. Construction is scheduled to start next year, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
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Benefits of 421-a tax break extended to Gowanus developers

Photo by Danny Navarro / Flickr cc

July 19, 2023

Benefits of 421-a tax break extended to Gowanus developers

By Devin Gannon

Developers of certain residential buildings in Gowanus will qualify for a tax break with benefits similar to 421-a, the program which expired last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday. As part of an executive action issued by the governor, projects in the Brooklyn neighborhood that qualified for 421-a before it lapsed but won't meet the 2026 completion deadline would qualify for tax breaks. The order is one of several Hochul announced as a way to spur residential construction after state lawmakers failed to reach a deal on a housing plan.
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Policy

MTA announces 5 fare-free bus routes

Image courtesy of Patrick J. Cashin / Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Flickr

July 18, 2023

MTA announces 5 fare-free bus routes

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is testing out free fares on bus routes in every borough this fall. As part of a pilot program launching in late September, five bus lines will be free to riders for between six and 12 months, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA announced Monday. The routes, which serve roughly 43,900 daily riders on an average weekday, were selected based on ridership, fare evasion, service quality, equity for low-income communities, and access to employment and commercial areas, according to the MTA.
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