Bond Center publishes memo: “NYC City Charter Amendments on Land Use Approvals: Implications for Manhattan Community Boards 9 and 10”
New York, NY
2026
Recent amendments to the New York City Charter - ballot proposals 2-4 approved in the 2025 NYC election - introduce significant procedural changes intended to accelerate affordable housing development, streamline approvals for modest land-use actions, and establish new oversight mechanisms for contested affordable housing proposals. These proposals were entered into the City Charter and took effect in November, 2025.
These changes directly affect public review processes, the authority of the New York City Council, and the discretionary role of agencies such as the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA). For Manhattan Community Boards 9 and 10—which encompass Central and West Harlem—understanding these adjustments is necessary to anticipate potential development patterns, evaluate local participation opportunities, and prepare for scenarios in which traditional review pathways may be shortened or bypassed entirely. This memo outlines the potential implications for CBs 9 and 10.
Team
Alden Copley, Shawn Rickenbacker, Lizzie MacWillie