This report calls for a reform of New York City's "421-a" tax exemption program to stop giving tax breaks to building owners who do not include affordable housing units. The “421-a” tax exemption program was created in the 1970s, when the city was on hard times, to...

The Green Agenda is a plan crafted by the people of Jackson Heights to address their ecological, economic, and social concerns. From November to March 2010, Pratt Center helped facilitate a community visioning process, bringing together over 400 Jackson Heights residents to imagine a greener...

Community Board 9 Manhattan 197-a Plan, completed in 2007, is the compilation of work begun by the Community Board in 1998, and later revised and supported by the Office of Manhattan Borough President, a Columbia University Planning Studio, the New York City Council, the Harlem Community...

This blueprint for economic development is the product of four years of collaboration by civic leaders, neighborhood advocates, community development organizations, labor unions, local development corporations, environmentalists, and others to make economic development work for all New Yorkers...

In this report, Pratt Center and Chhaya CDC call for the legalization of basement units and other illegal accessory dwelling units to create more affordable housing opportunities. Pratt Center and Chhaya make the case that legalizing and regulating these housing units would make them safer to...

This report documents the housing affordability crisis under Governor George Pataki’s administration and suggests policies for the next Governor to strengthen the New York housing market. While the need for affordable housing grew, the Pataki administration cut spending on housing low-...

This report documents the findings of a study of housing in the neighborhoods of eastern Brooklyn in Community Districts 5 and 16. Each neighborhood and its housing market is profiled, vacant and city owned lots are identified as development opportunities, and sub-prime loans and foreclosed...

Pratt Center and PolicyLink make the case for inclusionary zoning- setting aside low- and moderate-income units in new housing developments under designated areas in a rezoning- as a tool to ensure that the benefits of change in NYC neighborhoods will be fairly shared in the years to come. This...