NYC Announces 12 Districts for Affordable Housing Fast Track Starting 2027
On January 1, 2027, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Planning Director Sideya Sherman announced the selection of 12 community districts for the Affordable Housing Fast Track initiative, designed to accelerate affordable housing projects. Voter approval for this effort came through charter amendments passed in November 2026. Notably, the Upper West Side and Upper East Side were among those chosen, despite these areas representing a substantial population yet contributing only 724 new affordable housing units over the past five years. The community review period is set to be condensed to 90 days, with updates every five years, the next planned for October 2031.
Key facts
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani and DCP Director Sideya Sherman announced the 12 Fast Track districts.
- The Fast Track begins January 1, 2027.
- Voters approved charter amendments in November 2025 to create the program.
- The 12 districts represent one-fifth of the city's 59 community districts.
- They produced only 1% of new affordable housing in the last 5 years.
- Out of 65,777 affordable homes created between 2021 and 2026, these districts added 724.
- Four districts each produced fewer than 10 affordable homes over five years.
- The streamlined review cuts about four months from ULURP, using a 90-day process.
- The Fast Track allows bypassing City Council, with the City Planning Commission having final say.
- The district list will be recalculated every five years, with a new list in October 2031.
- The program is part of the Mamdani Administration's housing plan, Block by Block.
Entities
Artists
- Zohran Mamdani
- Sideya Sherman
Institutions
- New York City Department of City Planning
- New York City Council
- City Planning Commission
- Mamdani Administration
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Upper West Side
- Upper East Side