2023 Theses Master's

The Preservation and Expansion of Non-market Rate Housing on the Upper West Side

Liu, Mollye

The Upper West Side of New York City is facing significant housing insecurity, with many residents struggling to afford rent and considered cost-burdened. Affordable housing has become more crucial than ever, given the skyrocketing rents and housing prices in the area. This project aims to address the preservation and expansion of affordable housing in the Upper West Side through a current situation analysis and future planning.

The project seeks develop an inventory of existing non-market rate housing programs in Community District 7 Manhattan and analyze their demographic characteristics to determine the housing needs of the community. Additionally, the project quantifies the increase and decrease of rent-stabilized units over the past decades, identify opportunities for renovation and conversion to expand the housing supply, and create an online interactive map to help residents access available housing programs.

The researcher also identifies and proposes future affordable housing development and conversion opportunities, considering the intentions and concerns of local organizations and developers. The documentation of past and existing conditions will enable Community Board 7 Manhattan (CB7/M) to better advocate for all residents and expand their data on buildings suitable for conversion to affordable and supportive housing.

Overall, this capstone project provides a comprehensive analysis of the housing situation in CB7/M and proposes solutions for future affordable housing development and conversion opportunities in this area. The findings and recommendations of this study can be used by the CB7/M Housing Committee and other stakeholders to inform policy and decision-making related to affordable housing in this area.

The research product also includes inventory databases and online interactive map, which can be accessed via CB7/M’s official website.