New York City’s lower-density neighborhoods have become increasingly diverse in recent decades — and they’re in need of more housing options to reflect that, according to a new survey from the Citizens Housing & Planning Council. More than half of the land in the five boroughs is zoned for lower-density housing, and nearly 60 percent of the housing in the districts is in one- or two-unit buildings, the research and advocacy group noted. But the status quo may be increasingly insufficient for the population residing there. The organization polled 805 residents of lower-density zoning districts, finding about half of respondents were renters; 74 percent were concerned about whether they can afford to stay in their homes; and respondents were more likely to live in shared housing arrangements. Over the last two decades, the report noted, low-density districts have gone from being more white than the rest of the city to less white. “These neighborhoods are not old-style Levittowns, populated by white, single-family homeowners and nuclear families with unchanging needs,” the organization wrote. Rather, they’re “dynamic, diverse communities, now straining against the limits that have been imposed on their housing.” Survey respondents were more likely to share housing with an adult other than a spouse or partner than households citywide, and Black and Asian respondents in particular were most likely to share housing with related or unrelated adults other than a spouse, CHPC found. Nearly 20 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with the privacy their living situation offers. “People end up wedging themselves into whatever housing is available,” said Howard Slatkin, executive director of the organization. About a third of respondents to the survey live in multi-family buildings with four or more units, and “and there are indications that more of this type of housing is needed,” the report stated. Two-thirds of homeowners and 82 percent of renters expressed concern an increase in housing costs would prevent them from staying in their home as long as they’d like. The survey noted rental income and accessory dwelling units can help ease financial stress on homeowners, finding Black homeowners more often reported renting out units in their homes, and were more than twice as likely to be using their basements or cellars for living space. Welcome to POLITICO New York Real Estate and Infrastructure. Please send tips, ideas, releases and corrections to jchadha@politico.com.
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