An Illinois American Water water tower is pictured in Bolingbrook. The company is seeking to increase water rates beginning next year. Capitol News Illinois/Andrew Adams
The state’s largest private water utility, Illinois American Water, will increase customer bills in the new year.
The move comes after state regulators at the Illinois Commerce Commission approved the requested increase on Thursday. The five-member board approved a $110 million increase for the company, a 30% reduction from the company’s original request early this year.
Illinois American Water serves more than 1 million Illinoisans in roughly 150 communities around the state, ranging from South Beloit to Cairo, with major operations in the Chicago suburbs, Champaign, Peoria and the Metro East.
Illinois American Water said in a statement it is reviewing the final order and indicated it will communicate directly with customers about the impact to their bills. While they did not provide an estimate, the increase will be lower than the company’s originally requested rate hike. That would have corresponded to a roughly $24 per month increase in water service bills and a $5 increase in wastewater service costs for the average residential customer.
The ICC also reduced the company’s proposed return on equity — a share of the company’s revenue that’s paid out to investors – from its requested 10.75% to 9.84%.
New water rates will go into effect in early 2025.
The company said in a statement Thursday the “main driver” of the increase was to cover the cost of future investments in water systems.
That includes things like lead pipe replacement and upgrading pump stations that move water throughout its system. The increase also covers the costs associated with Illinois American Water purchasing several water systems from local governments.
The legal order approving the rate increase Thursday also included an expansion of Illinois American Water’s low-income discount program. The expansion will provide between a 10% and 80% reduction to customers’ bills if they have an income below three times the federal poverty level. In 2024, that was about $93,600 per year for a family of four.
Affordability was a major issue for some customers who spoke out against the proposed rate increase at public hearings held around the state this summer. At one particularly fiery hearing in Bolingbrook, customers urged the ICC to reject the increase, pointing out the already high cost of bills.
Others at that hearing pointed to the fact that bill increases disproportionately affect those on fixed incomes and the elderly. This was a major theme for AARP Illinois, a group that advocates for the interests of those 50 and older.
Last month, AARP Illinois delivered petitions with what they said were over 10,000 signatures to the ICC opposing the proposed rate increase as well as a similar proposal from Aqua Illinois, the state’s second largest private water utility.
AARP Illinois State Director Philipe Largent said in a statement the 30% reduction was a “step in the right direction” and commended the ICC for hosting public hearings on the rate case earlier in the year.
Water system acquisitions were a major part of the controversy surrounding Illinois American Water’s rate case and others this year. Throughout the past year, consumer advocates criticized a state law that allows water utilities to purchase water systems and recover 100% of the associated costs of those purchases from customers.
That policy — outlined in the Illinois Water Systems Viability Act, or SVA — has led to lawmakers of both parties calling for reform to the system, backing a proposal from the Citizens Utility Board, a consumer advocacy group.
CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said she and others at CUB were “disappointed” that the water utility received a significant rate increase.
“The ICC’s ruling today gives new urgency to CUB’s push to reform a water privatization law that Illinois American Water successfully lobbied for, and now uses to plunder its customers,” Moskowitz said in a statement. “Illinois American Water has now received $195 million in rate hikes in just two years, and they’ve indicated on earnings calls that they expect the rate hikes to continue.”
But some say that privatization is a way for smaller water systems to get infrastructure upgrades they otherwise wouldn’t have. Illinois American Water President Rebecca Losi noted at a public hearing earlier this year that the acquisitions make up “less than 4%” of the company’s originally proposed increase.
Read more:In the suburbs, proposed water rates spark outrage from residents, advocates
ICC Commissioner Stacey Paradis called out the role of acquisitions in a comment at Thursday’s meeting.
“Generally, we’ve seen communities choose to sell because they cannot afford to invest in system upgrades to antiquated infrastructure required to meet federal and state regulations or they can’t maintain existing systems,” Paradis said. “It seems clear based on recent cases and evidence across the country that water systems haven’t received much investment in decades, leading to aging systems that are inefficient and aren’t able to meet health and safety standards.”
ICC Chair Doug Scott also noted Thursday the state’s limited ability to interfere with municipal water systems
“If an investor-owned utility seeks to acquire a system and the acquisition is compliant with the SVA, the commission must grant the acquisition order,” Scott said. “The commission does not have the authority to direct public and municipal system investments in the system that were referred to by Commissioner Paradis.”
Capitol News Illinoisis a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson, center, stands with other coaches before an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) AP
Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson announced Thursday that the team has fired head coach Luke Richardson.
Rockford IceHogs coach Anders Sorensen has been named interim head coach and will assume duties immediately. Mark Eaton, Blackhawks assistant general manager overseeing player development, will assume interim head coaching responsibilities in Rockford.
“Today I made the difficult decision to move on from Luke as our head coach. We thank him for his efforts and contributions to the organization and our community,” Davidson said. “As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary. We wish Luke and his family all the best moving forward.”
Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson conducts the team’s NHL hockey training camp Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) AP
“On behalf of the entire Blackhawks organization, I’d like to thank Luke for his dedication over the past three seasons,” said Blackhawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz. “I fully support Kyle’s decision in making this change as he continues to do what is needed to move our team forward. I have the utmost confidence in him and the rest of our hockey operations team as they begin their search for the next head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.”
Sorensen, 49, assumes the interim coaching role after spending the previous six seasons behind the Rockford IceHogs bench. The native of Södertälje, Sweden, originally joined the Blackhawks organization as a development coach in 2013-14, a role he remained in for five seasons until being named an assistant coach with Rockford beginning in 2018-19.
Sorensen was promoted to associate coach ahead of the 2021-22 before taking over as interim head coach six games into the season. He earned a 35-26-5 record as interim head coach and guided the team to its first Calder Cup Playoffs berth for the first time since the 2017-18 season. He has amassed a 117-89-16-7 record in 229 career AHL games serving as head coach, all with Rockford, while the IceHogs have reached the playoffs in each of his three seasons serving as bench boss.
Prior to joining the Blackhawks organization, Sorensen spent three seasons serving as assistant coach for Södertälje SK of HockeyAllsvenskan from 2011-13 before taking over as interim head coach in October 2013.
“While I supported the majority of the zoning reforms originally proposed, the modifications maintain its key components while accommodating specific neighborhood concerns and, most importantly, the essential principle that housing should be built in every district.”
Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit.
The author, Councilmember Pierina Ana Sanchez, at a press briefing about the housing plan earlier this week.
Our city faces a dire housing shortage and affordability crisis felt by New Yorkers in every neighborhood. The citywide vacancy rate is 1.4 percent, and low and middle-income New Yorkers being priced out of the city they call home.
In addition to making our city increasingly unaffordable, this housing crisis is responsible for the many health and safety challenges undermining quality of life across the five boroughs. To prevent worsening outcomes for our city, we must take urgent action to address New Yorkers’ fundamental need for access to safe and affordable housing.
Fortunately, the City Council has moved forward to do just that. Our housing package—zoning reforms through a modified City of Yes, paired with $5 billion in commitments secured through City for All—can mark a fundamental turning point. Together, they move our city toward comprehensive solutions that ensure all neighborhoods contribute to the creation of housing, and that New Yorkers’ diverse housing needs receive the major investments they deserve.
For years, New York City has simply built too few new homes for our growing population. Housing production has been overwhelmingly concentrated in a handful of communities, like those I represent in the Bronx, while many areas have opted out of our collective responsibility to house our neighbors. But we can no longer accept a paradigm where just a handful of neighborhoods are asked to meet the needs of an entire city.
For too long, exclusionary zoning and a vocal minority have blocked new housing, driving housing prices in every part of the city to levels that are unaffordable for most New Yorkers. We cannot afford inaction, which would only leave New Yorkers increasingly vulnerable to displacement, homelessness, and housing instability, all of which threaten our collective well-being.
While I supported the majority of the zoning reforms originally proposed, the modifications maintain its key components while accommodating specific neighborhood concerns and, most importantly, the essential principle that housing should be built in every district. This is a historic step forward for fair housing in our city, advancing Speaker Adams’ Fair Housing Framework Act that the Council passed into law last year.
Onerous parking mandates, which require off-street spaces for the vast majority of new development—even in areas where a fraction of residents own cars—have been significantly reduced or eliminated in large swaths of the five boroughs. In neighborhoods with the best access to transit, these arbitrary requirements have been eliminated entirely. That’s an area nearly triple the size of Austin, the largest U.S. city to lift parking mandates, and will unlock more opportunities for New Yorkers to live within walking distance of the subway.
For the first time in our city’s zoning history, affordability requirements in low-density zoning districts will be established to make inclusionary zoning citywide. Affordable housing incentives are now being extended beyond just high-density areas that have historically shouldered their development, expanding opportunities for more New Yorkers to access affordable homes in every part of the city.
Larger housing development projects that utilize the new Universal Affordability Preference zoning program will be required to designate 20 percent of their affordable units for New Yorkers earning up to 40 percent of the area median income, due to the Council’s modification. This will help ensure the creation of more affordable homes for New Yorkers with incomes less than $44,000 for an individual and $62,000 for a family of four. Our changes will make the program responsive to the fact that the vacancy rate for the lowest-cost homes is virtually non-existent, at under one percent.
In addition to these critical zoning reforms, the City Council’s comprehensive City for All housing plan will ensure investments make housing more affordable, home-ownership opportunities increasingly attainable, and pathways to housing stability available for all. NYCHA is a priority in City for All, along with support for Mitchell-Lamas, housing vouchers, and tenant protections. Record amounts of funding will be invested in the infrastructure of our neighborhoods, and future neighborhood plans will create additional affordable housing options in partnership with local communities.
The Council, with the support of the administration and our partners in state government, is advancing one of the most comprehensive, pro-housing plans in the city’s history.
Yet, we must realize that this can only be a strong start to the housing solutions needed for New Yorkers. Without more consistent actions to deliver stability and opportunity for New Yorkers, like those being advanced by the City of Yes and City for All, we will continue to lose the working families that have built our city and its economy. The future well-being of our communities and the potential of our city depends on ensuring that housing is not a privilege for the few, but a right for every New Yorker.
Councilmember Sanchez represents the 14th Council District, which includes the neighborhoods of Kingsbridge, Fordham, University Heights and Mount Hope.
Firefighters battled a blaze Wednesday in a homeless encampment near the Fox River in Elgin. Brian Hill/[email protected]
A fire in a homeless encampment in Elgin Wednesday night remains under investigation Thursday and has sparked a wave of donations to those affected.
Flames rose as high as 30 feet in the encampment known as Tent City just before 5 p.m. Wednesday. The encampment is between Route 31 and the Fox River just north of Kimball Street in Elgin.
Elgin Fire Chief Robb Cagann said no injuries have been reported. He added that fire and police officials on the scene have been unable to find anyone who claims to have been impacted by the fire. However, they estimate five people may have been affected.
“There was nobody around last night, and nobody has stopped by today to say, ‘this was my area and my stuff,’” he said.
Cagann said the fire was “impressive looking” and definitely interrupted car and train traffic. But it didn’t appear to have had as big an impact on the community living there as many had feared.
“People were saying Tent City is on fire,” he said. “So it makes it sound like the entire encampment burned down when, in reality, this was three, four, maybe five structures.”
The fire happened in a fairly densely occupied area and was exacerbated by high winds, spreading to a couple of structures before firefighters arrived.
In addition to the wind, the encampment’s location made fighting the fire more challenging. Hoses had to be pulled a long distance from the road and cross the Metra tracks, so firefighters had to wait to confirm train traffic had been stopped, Cagann said.
Cagann said officials are working to determine where the fire started, but they don’t expect to learn what sparked it.
“We’ve already found so many possible ignition sources that it’s going to be impossible to actually identify what the cause is,” Cagann said.
As word of the fire spread on social media Wednesday, several local restaurants announced they would be collecting donations for residents of the encampment.
Donations for people affected by a Wednesday fire at an Elgin homeless encampment piled up outside Paul’s Family Restaurant on Thursday. Courtesy of Paul’s Family Restaurant
Paul’s Family Restaurant in Elgin, Village Tavern & Grill of South Elgin and Dukes Blues-n-BBQ in East Dundee were among those trying to help those affected.
Elaine Paul of Paul’s Family Restaurant said they have been collecting supplies for the homeless for the past few months. But as word of the fire got out, they received a huge outpouring of donations Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
She said news that no one was hurt and that very few people were affected means the fire had at least one unintended benefit.
“We’re going to be able to supply a lot of people from the donations coming in,” she said.
Paul said the donations would be taken to an emergency warming shelter as they continue to collect cold weather gear like sleeping bags, blankets, coats, scarves, hats, boots and gloves.
“It’s been wonderful to see the reaction of people and their eagerness to help people in need,” she said.
The city of Elgin encouraged those who want to help to make donations to groups like Elgin Cooperative Ministries or to volunteer at the city-sponsored overnight warming shelter.
Both the city and Cagann asked people to stay out of the area while the investigation is ongoing.
Thinking about protecting your home from flooding in the new year? These resources can help you get insurance coverage.
Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
Flood damage in Woodside, Queens, following Hurricane Ida in 2021.
New Yorkers are no strangers to flooding. There are 1.3 million New York City residents living in or next to a floodplain, or low-lying area that gets flooded often.
That’s pretty scary when just one inch of water is needed to cause roughly $25,000 of damage to a property, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In New York, over 20,400 insured properties across the state have experienced repeated flooding, according to an interactive dashboard by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that uses FEMA data. It’s also the fourth state in the country with the largest number of insured properties damaged by at least two floods. And only 3 percent of residential properties in New York have flood insurance at all.
“The vast majority of people across the U.S., including in New York, do not have flood insurance and so they’re completely on their own when it comes to addressing the costs of flooding,” said Anna Weber, a senior policy analyst at NRDC who helped put together the dashboard.
Weber says there are a lot of reasons for that. For one, most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies don’t cover damages caused by flooding.
Few private insurance companies offer it because they don’t want to take on that massive risk. The federal government fills in that gap in the market, serving as the U.S.’ largest provider through the National Flood Insurance Program. The federal insurance policy covers a maximum of $250,000 for a building and $100,000 for its contents, according to Flood Help NY.
Another reason people don’t have flood coverage: they don’t realize it’s available to anyone who wants it, whether they live near a high flood risk area or not.
And yes, flood insurance is not just for homeowners—renters can get it too.
Renters can protect their stuff from downpour by purchasing flood insurance for just the contents of their apartment. Meanwhile, a standard flood policy for a homeowner will cover structural damage. That includes replacing a busted furnace, water heater or air conditioner and cleaning up debris.
Since homeowner policies cover costs associated with an entire building, those tend to be more expensive. But how much the coverage costs varies in large part according to the location: those who live closer to high flood risk zones will pay more.
But perhaps the main reason people don’t have flood insurance is that they can’t afford to take on the extra cost. A policy could cost a New York homeowner, on average, $1,304 a year, one insurance company says.
Homeowners are federally required to have flood insurance if they live in a high-risk flood zone and have a federally-backed mortgage, or have previously received federal disaster assistance for flood damage, according to the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. Still, there are currently no state or city-backed grant programs to help low and moderate income New Yorkers afford flood insurance.
On the federal level, FEMA has released a framework for what an affordability program would look like. But Congress is yet to pass legislation to demand FEMA create a flood insurance affordability program.
For now, those who can take on the cost can use these resources to figure out how to protect their homes from flooding in the new year and beyond.
Use this map to find out if your property is in a flood risk zone and required to have flood insurance.
New Yorkers can click here to get a quote for their property.
The National Flood Insurance Program will help you get a quote on how much your policy will cost here. Or you can get a referral for an insurance agent that sells the federal policy by clicking here or calling 1-888-435-6637
For more information on the federal flood insurance program you can call 1-800-427-4661.
For a step-by-step guide on how to find flood insurance, use this website maintained by the mayor’s office.
There is also a New York State website called FloodHelpNY that breaks down how flood insurance works and provides a series of resources.
As climate change worsens, options for flood insurance have become increasingly available through the private market. But there are pros and cons to both the federal and private options, so shop around before you decide. While private companies offer much higher coverage limits than the national program, they can refuse to give you coverage if they deem your property too risky. And private companies can even decline to renew your policy if your property gets damaged.
Some of the private insurance companies that do offer flood coverage for New York City include Neptune, Aon Edge and Loyds of London.
Gavin Hagge and his family are at odds with District 301 over his handicap parking placard. Rick West/[email protected]
The standoff between an Elgin family and Burlington-based Central Unit School District 301 over whether a student with an accessible parking placard can use it at his high school without a school parking pass is over.
Sharon Hagge said that during a Tuesday meeting with school district officials, they were told her son Gavin could use the placard and park in an accessible spot.
“It is such mixed emotions,” Sharon Hagge said Thursday morning. “We are absolutely grateful that he can now drive himself to and from school without worry. But this should not have taken this much time … not to mention thousands of dollars in legal fees on both sides of the issue.
“There’s still that frustration that this should not have happened in the first place.”
Gavin, 16, suffered a concussion playing soccer as a sophomore for the Central High School JV team on Sept. 26, 2023.
He still suffers from chronic headaches and sensitivity to light and sound over a year later. The neurologist caring for Gavin recommended a temporary accessible parking pass, which the state granted because he didn’t want the teen riding on a bus or relying on his parents if he needed to leave school.
Gavin does not experience any problems when he drives himself. He completed driver’s education through the school district while dealing with his post-concussion symptoms.
The family emailed the school officials before the school year began to notify them that Gavin had a state-issued accessible parking placard. But Central High officials told them he would not be allowed to park at the school because he did not have a school parking pass.
“He can park anywhere in the United States except his public high school,” his dad, Eric Hagge, said last month.
Gavin applied for a parking pass through a lottery but was not selected before the school year or in a later lottery when spaces opened following a construction project. When he parked in an accessible space in November, he was threatened with detention, and a disciplinary note was placed on his permanent record.
School district officials had contended it was a safety issue and that they were working toward a solution that addressed their concerns and those of the family.
After several months of back and forth between the family, the district and lawyers for both sides, the issue was resolved following the family’s Tuesday meeting with District 301 Superintendent Esther Mongan and the district’s attorney.
“We are pleased to have reached an understanding that addresses the perspectives of both parties,” Mongan said Thursday in a written statement. “The District looks forward to continuing to collaboratively work with the family.”
Sharron said the matter has been affecting Gavin’s sleep and recovery.
“I’m grateful the focus can now be on him healing and recovering and feeling better without all the added stress that has been weighing on him,” she said.
“The Simpsons” iconic pink car display will only be available at the Volo Museum in Volo through Dec. 31. Courtesy of Jim Wojdyla
The Volo Museum is unveiling a special Christmas display to celebrate the 35th anniversary of “The Simpsons.”
This one-of-a-kind exhibit is a fan-recreated version of Homer Simpson’s iconic pink car, “The Junkola.”
The car will be on display only this month, offering fans of the show a unique photo opportunity filled with a decorated Christmas tree, life-size cutouts of the Simpsons family in festive holiday outfits, and of course, the famous vehicle.
“This car is such a fun pop-culture touchstone,” said Brian Grams, museum director. “‘The Simpsons’ have influenced generations, and when I saw the car, I knew it needed to be part of our collection.”
The Junkola was re-created painstakingly by a fan in Michigan to match the car seen in the opening credits of every episode. The vehicle recently hit the online marketplace, going viral on social media while also garnering national media attention. When Grams learned it was available for purchase, he couldn’t resist. Negotiations even included a replica of Homer’s iconic pink sprinkle doughnut. After acquiring the car, it was placed in storage, awaiting the perfect moment for its public debut.
That moment arrived thanks to Jim Wojdyla, the museum’s marketing director, who noted that Dec. 17 marks the 35th anniversary of the first episode of “The Simpsons.”
“Not only is it the 35th anniversary, but the first episode also happened to be a Christmas special,” Wojdyla said. “Talk about the perfect time to debut the car, honor ‘The Simpsons’ legacy, and celebrate the holiday season all at once.”
The iconic pink car display will only be available through Dec. 31 before it returns to storage. The Volo Museum also offers another Simpsons photo opportunity on the property: a bench with life-size statues of the beloved characters, making it a must-visit destination for fans of the iconic series.
Admission to Volo Museum is $24.95 for adults, with all pricing options listed at www.volofun.com. The photo op is free with regular paid admission to Volo Museum.
The Volo Museum is home to more than 50 famous TV and movie cars, including vehicles from “Batman,” “Dukes of Hazzard,” “Fast and Furious” and “Ghostbusters.” Located at 27582 Volo Village Road in Volo, the museum offers fun for all ages with an eclectic mix of exhibits and attractions.
20. Burlington Central (8-3) Went toe-to-toe with Geneva in playoffs
Bruno Massel led York to the Class 8A state championship game against Loyola. The Dukes finished the year No.1 in the Daily Herald’s final football Top 20.
The Council will vote on a modified version of the City of Yes plan—one which scales back some of the zoning reforms included in the original, adds affordability incentives, and allocates $5 billion for infrastructure upgrades and housing programs.
Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other lawmakers at a press conference Tuesday, touting the deal.
The City Council will vote Thursday on a modified version of the mayor’s City Of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal—one which scales back some of the zoning reforms included in the original plan, adds affordability incentives, and allocates $5 billion for infrastructure upgrades and affordable housing.
The plan’s expected passage will be a win for Mayor Eric Adams—who is facing federal corruption charges—and comes after a months-long, at-time contentious review process, including a July public hearing that lasted 14 hours. City of Yes for Housing updates a number of decades-old zoning rules to make it easier “to build a little more housing in every neighborhood,” according to the proposal’s tagline.
The changes, officials say, will create an estimated 80,000 new homes over 15 years, more than what was built under both the de Blasio and Bloomberg administrations (though less than the 108,850 the mayor’s office initially projected for the plan). It comes as the city faces its greatest housing scarcity in decades, and record-high homelessness in the last two years.
“The impacts of these housing pressures are profoundly unequal, with a disproportionate effect on Black and Latino communities,” City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said at a press conference Tuesday. “Our city’s Black community, the population itself, has declined by nearly 200,000 people over the past two decades, a deeply alarming exodus that is attributed to rising costs and the lack of opportunities for families to own a home.”
The Council pushed for weeks to get City Hall to commit capital funding alongside the plan, arguing that zoning reforms alone weren’t sufficient to address the housing crisis. The $5 billion secured as part of the deal up for a vote this week includes money for NYCHA repairs, rental vouchers and infrastructure upgrades to address flooding, among other initiatives.
Lawmakers also negotiated a number of modifications to the plan—in response, they say, to concerns from the community aired during public review. These include affordability incentives for developers of larger buildings in certain neighborhoods, who will have to make 20 percent of their units income-restricted if they want to take advantage of the new allowable zoning.
The revised plan also maintains parking minimums for new development in certain outer borough neighborhoods, and limits some of the places where the reforms would taller buildings in low-density commercial areas and transit districts.
“We believe our modifications to the zoning reforms balance respect for neighborhood character, because not all districts are alike,” Adams said Tuesday.
Here’s a closer look at some of the changes, and what the Council will be voting on Thursday.
What’s the $5 billion for?
The $5 billion commitment attached to City of Yes’ passage covers investments in new housing, infrastructure upgrades and tenant protection measures. The funds include $1 billion promised by Gov. Kathy Hochul, pending approval in the state budget in the coming months.
The rest was pledged by Mayor Adams, with $2 billion for affordable housing development and preservation, including for NYCHA and Mitchell-Lama developments, and $2 billion for infrastructure investments to better prepare neighborhoods for more housing, such as upgraded stormwater and drainage systems, street improvements, open space and flood mitigation efforts.
According to the Council, the pot of money includes:
$1 million for technical assistance for faith-based and community-based organizations that want to build housing on their land as part of the City of Yes reforms
$1.5 million to support and strengthen community land trusts (CLTs)
$41 million to expand the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program
$22 million to support homeowners with property tax and water costs
An additional $215 million for CityFHEPS rental vouchers during the current and next fiscal years
$150 million to cover NYCHA rental arrears for eligible households
Restoring $7.6 million in baselined funding for the Anti-Harassment Tenant Protection program, whose providers saw their city contracts cut at the start of the most recent fiscal year in July. These nonprofit attorneys work with low-income tenants with issues like landlord harassment, illegal rent hikes or compelling building owners to make repairs.
$3 million for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to design new flood maps, and $608,000 for the development of a new Surface Flood Sensor Program.
Adding 200 staff positions to the city agencies that work on housing issues, including the Department of Buildings and the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development. The deal also pledges “new attorney positions” at the City’s Commission on Human Rights, “to support enforcement against violations of NYC’s Human Rights Law, including source-of-income discrimination.” SOI discrimination is when a landlord or real estate broker refuses to rent to a tenant with a housing voucher, a practice which is illegal but widespread. The number of city attorneys working on SOI enforcement had dwindled in recent years.
$200 million for NYCHA’s Vacant Unit Readiness Program, which prepares public housing apartments for the next tenant after a household moves out, and often includes major renovation work, like lead abatement. The number of vacant units across NYCHA has spiked in recent years, in part due to the cost of such repairs; as of October, more than 5,000 apartments across the system were empty.
“I represent the largest public housing stock in the entire city, and continue to be very disappointed by the state of our public housing developments and the fact that we’re not doing enough to really help mitigate the day to day issues that our residents are facing,” Councilmember Diana Ayala, who represents parts of the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, said at Tuesday’s press briefing.
“And by issues, I mean basic necessities like refrigerators and stoves, and patching a hole in the wall and remediating the rats that are coming in now,” she said.
Affordability adds
One of the key complaints about City of Yes for Housing is that it didn’t include enough incentives for developers to create affordable homes. While one portion of the plan, the Universal Affordability Preference, offers projects a 20 percent density bonus if the extra units are affordable, its use is restricted to medium and higher density districts.
The Council’s modifications aim to change that, with affordability incentives added to other aspects of the plan that target lower density neighborhoods. These include the Transit-Oriented Development and Town Center Zoning provisions, which allow three- to five-story residential buildings in commercially zoned areas and near train stations.
Under the Council’s tweaks, developers of projects larger than 50 units where those two reforms apply can only take full advantage of the change if at least 20 percent of apartments are affordable, and reserved for households earning 80 percent of the area median income ($111,840 for a family of three).
For the Universal Affordability Preference in higher density districts, the Council added a requirement for “deep” affordability—if a developer wants to take advantage of the additional floor area ratio, it would need to make 20 percent of the affordable units available to households earning 40 percent of the area median income ($55,920 for a family of three).
“I know this seems numbers and wonky, but this is the difference between rents that are $2,500, $2,800, which in the South Bronx nobody is affording, right? Versus units that are down below $1,800, sometimes $1,200 or less,” said Barika Williams, executive director of the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD).
The Council also added restrictions to where Transit-Oriented Development and Town Center Zoning changes would apply. The taller buildings allowed under Town Center Zoning would now be prohibited on blocks that are mostly one- and two-family homes, and areas eligible for Transit-Oriented Development would exclude R1 and R2 zoning districts (neighborhoods limited to detached single-family homes).
The Council also reduced the radius where Transit-Oriented development would apply for the city’s “outermost” LIRR and Metro North stations, to within a quarter of a mile, down from half a mile in the original plan.
The great parking debate
Adi Talwar
A parking lot in Lower Manhattan.
A key sticking point during negotiations over the plan was the removal of parking requirements for new development, which currently apply for residential projects in much of the city (except for Manhattan below 96th Street, and parts of Long Island City).
Critics of the practice say mandating developers to include off-street parking spots to build new housing drives up the cost of construction, though some elected officials and residents, particularly in outer borough neighborhoods, balked at the prospect of doing away with them.
The Council opted for a patchwork of parking rules, creating three geographic zones with different requirements (though certain types of developments would be exempt from the minimums regardless of where they are, including affordable housing, transit-oriented development, Town Center development, Accessory Dwelling Units and conversions).
Deeply transit accessible neighborhoods dubbed “Zone 1” would see parking requirements lifted entirely, “Zone 2” areas would have reduced minimums, while “Zone 3” spots would maintain most of the existing mandates.
NYC Council
Each zone will have different requirements around parking space minimums for new housing.
Many transit and open space advocates were disappointed in the shift. Sara Lind, co-executive director at Open Plans, which advocates for more public spaces, called it “an incremental victory.”
“While cities across the country are fully lifting parking mandates, the New York City Council chose to be less bold,” Lind said in statement. “This was a once-in-a-generation chance and we believe far too many New Yorkers still live in car dependence and transit deserts that are caused in part by parking mandates.”
Accessory Dwelling Units, infill limits
Another major change was to City of Yes’ reforms around Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs. The proposal sought to make it easier for property owners to make these add-ons—independent units on the same lot as existing housing, such as a backyard cottage, converted garage or basement with a separate entrance.
Supporters, which include advocates for older adults like the AARP, tout ADUs as a means for homeowners to house multiple generations of family, or to earn additional income to help them remain in their homes.
The Council’s plan adds restrictions. It prohibits backyard ADUs in low density residential areas (R1, R2 and R3 zones, unless they’re in a transit-accessible district) and in historic districts. It blocks ADUs altogether in attached homes or row-houses, and those on ground or basement floors if they’re in areas vulnerable to flooding.
“By potentially restricting accessory dwelling units and town-center zoning, the council is not just reducing total housing production. They’re eliminating housing options that could help seniors age in place and young families remain in their communities,” David J. Rosenberg, a land use attorney with Rosenberg & Estis P.C., said in a statement responding to the revisions.
The final City of Yes deal also put some limits on zoning for “infill” housing, which would make it easier for religious facilities, schools and coops to build on their campuses. To address concerns about overcrowding, the Council would prohibit infill on any land being used today for recreation, and require that campuses maintain a certain percentage of open space.
Speaker Adams said the revised deal demonstrates “balance.”
“We heard voices of community residents who participated in the public review process, including those who are concerned about what City of Yes will mean for their neighborhood,” she said at a press briefing Tuesday. “We are showing it is possible to ensure every neighborhood contributes to creating more homes for New Yorkers, while respecting the differences across neighborhoods.”
City Limits will update this story following the City Council’s vote on Thursday.
Chicago police released this image earlier this week of a man sought in connection with the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Alexander Nesteruk in the city’s Lincoln Park neighborhood Nov. 27. Courtesy of Chicago Police Department
A person of interest was in custody in the fatal shooting of a Wheaton man during an argument in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood late last month, Chicago police confirmed Thursday morning.
Charges have not been announced.
Authorities released photos and videos of the alleged gunman Tuesday, asking for help identifying him. Footage from a surveillance camera shows him dressed in all black.
Alexander Nesteruk, 34, was “exhibiting erratic and dangerous behavior” in the 2400 block of North Clark Street about 4 p.m. Nov. 27, when he instigated an argument with a group of people, one of whom pulled out a gun and fired shots, Chicago police and Ald. Timmy Knudsen said.
Nesteruk suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at 1:19 p.m. Monday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
To read the full report, visit chicago.suntimes.com.
