Senate Nixes Bill That Would Allow Taller and Denser Buildings in Downtown Brooklyn
Senate Bill S6760, which proposed an elimination of the cap on the residential floor area ratio (FAR), was quashed late last week.
Downtown Brooklyn. Photo by Craig Hubert
The existing residential FAR cap will remain, at least for now.
New York State Senate Bill S6760, which proposed an elimination of the cap on the residential floor area ratio (FAR), was quashed late last week. The cap has been set at 12 since 1961.
The bill resurfaced in May. A similar proposal in 2015 and 2016 failed to pass.
If the bill had been passed, development in some of New York’s highest density areas, including Downtown Brooklyn, would have been significantly less restricted, and residential construction would be allowed to be larger. The bill could mean upzoning many areas of New York City, according to critics of the proposal.
Critics of the bill feel it is another example of catering to real estate developers. Supporters, such as REBNY, argue it would help increase affordable housing and encourage mixed-income neighborhoods and housing.
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