‘The housing crisis isn’t inevitable’: NYC planning chief Dan Garodnick reflects on four tumultuous, eventful years Garodnick shepherded through major changes to zoning and land use that will impact housing production for years to come.

It was an honor to serve as Director of the Department of City Planning over the past four years. Some reflections here:

www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

Sharing here that I plan to leave my role at @nycplanning in the coming weeks. After 4 productive years, this is the right moment for me to take on new challenges. I’m very proud of what we achieved, and I believe NYC is on a stronger path because of it.

Celebrating the @NYCCouncil passing of the Midtown South Mixed Use Plan in McCaffrey Park — one of a number of public spaces due to get major investment and renovation.
Cc: @ebottcher

Enthusiastically voted today @MTA in support of a design contract for the Interborough Express (IBX)-will take riders 14 mi. from Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights. Great opportunity for access in transit deserts, connections to existing train lines & use of existing infrastructure.

With the state's outdated FAR cap finally gone, we were able to DOUBLE the amount of housing in our proposal for Midtown South.

10,000 new homes in the heart of Manhattan — let's make it happen!

Good stuff happening in NYC. 17,000 homes coming out of office conversions already — including 1,602 (with 400+ permanently income restricted affordable) from the former Pfizer Headquarters on East 42nd Street. Enabled by City Of Yes for Housing, and a tax incentive from NY State.

PIX on Politics Daily: NYC Planning Chair on Manhattan Housing Proposal YouTube video by PIX11 News

Here’s my conversation with @DanMannarino @wpix about Midtown South, and the important opportunity before us to allow for housing and to create a vibrant, 24/7 mixed use environment. @NYCPlanning

youtu.be/N2bdW3_1NJI

We have a plan to create a more vibrant, mixed use community in Midtown South (roughly 24th to 41st Streets, 5th to 8th Ave), and it is now before the City Council.

We’re giving new meaning to work from home…or should we say, “home from work”?

#NYC Friends: Join @dgarodnick.bsky.social & me for a convo about my new USA Today Bestselling Book Conflict Resilience on Wed. April 9 at 6:30pm at P&T Knitwear. #conflictresilience #booklaunch #conflictresolution #polarization. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/bob-bordon...

More space for homes, less parking where it isn’t needed. 

With City of Yes, we’ve rolled back outdated parking mandates to tackle NYC’s housing crisis.

The Manhattan Plan will look to add 100,000 homes over the next decade, helping to tackle our housing shortage & allowing more New Yorkers to live near the jobs, amenities & opportunities that the borough offers.

Kudos to @nycmayor for championing this bold vision #SOTC2025.

Mayor’s 2025 State of the City Speech at The Apollo. Watch live nyc.gov.

I want to recognize the great work of @MTA conductor Theresa Footman, who demonstrated extraordinary professionalism, calm, and humor in the power failure that required evacuation of 3,500 riders last Weds. Amazing poise in a very difficult situation.

Congrats @theNYHC on an incredible conference in support of the affordable housing community today. Thanks also for inviting me to participate — and for all of your incredible leadership and advocacy in support of housing supply in NYC

In Parkchester, BX for tonight’s community conversation with @NYCMayor. Got to catch up with @NYCCouncil Majority Leader (and local rep for Parkchester) @CMAmandaFarias. Watch live nyc.gov.

Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving.

A huge congratulations to our new police commissioner, Jessica Tisch. A tough, smart, committed New Yorker who knows how to deliver results. I wish her all the best in her new role.

N.Y.C. Housing Plan Moves Forward With an Unexpected $5 Billion Boost A City Council committee passed a major proposal that would ease restrictions on housing growth in New York. The full Council is likely to approve it next month.

The Discourse (rightly) spends a lot of him hammering Democratic-run cities for not building enough housing, so this is good to see!

www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/n...

Port Authority Bus Terminal’s $10B revamp secures City Council approval Over three acres of public green space was key to gaining local support for the project.

A new Port Authority Bus Terminal has been approved.

With 65 million annual riders, this critical infrastructure project will bring a major improvement for riders, and will much better serve the surrounding neighborhood.

www.crainsnewyork.com/transportati...

@NYCCouncil just passed thoughtful amendments to #CityofYes for Housing. As modified, it enables 80K units while respecting neighborhood context, keeps every core component of the initial proposal, and ensures we create a little more housing in every neighborhood. Well done!

I cast my @MTA vote today in favor of congestion pricing, to take direct aim at crippling congestion & its economic consequences, and to deliver key projects like the 2nd Ave subway, better signals and reliability, more ADA stations, electric buses and more. Starts Jan 5.

New Yorkers are struggling with the price of housing — so let’s take this opportunity to say yes to #CityofYes, and set the city on a more affordable path.

Surge of restaurants played role in New York City's storefront revival, study says According to the same study, more than 70% of neighborhoods citywide have seen an uptick in food and drink businesses.

The storefront vacancy rate citywide is just above 11%, which is still higher than before the pandemic. But the share of empty stores has fallen citywide for four straight quarters, with the outer boroughs being a big draw. @NYCPlanning

abc7ny.com/post/surge-r...

A Surge of New Restaurants Drives New York City’s Storefront Revival Store vacancy rates are still above prepandemic levels, but new food and drink businesses, led by Mexican, Japanese and Caribbean kitchens, have helped fill the void.

"New York City’s thousands of empty storefronts, a symbol of the lasting effects of the coronavirus pandemic, are filling up faster than many predicted.
Thank your local taqueria." www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/n...

Congestion pricing will improve traffic speeds and emergency response times, and deliver better and more accessible transit. Grateful to @GovKathyHochul for unpausing the pause, and for her support of the 2025-2029 @MTA capital program. My vote @MTA Board will be a "yes.”

Vital City | Why New Yorkers in Poverty Need City of Yes The benefits of the Adams administration’s zoning reform plan are especially big for those on the bottom rungs of the income ladder.

The benefits of the #CityofYes housing plan are especially big for those on the bottom rungs of the income ladder, write @RichardBuery & Bea de la Torre in @VitalCityNYC | Why New Yorkers in Poverty Need City of Yes

www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/why...