2025 Theses Master's

Planning Beyond Boundaries: Creating Pathways Forward for Regional Housing and Climate Resilience Planning in New York

Kim, Sojung

Cities across the United States continue to grapple with a deepening housing crisis—one that is increasingly compounded by the impacts of climate change. In the New York metropolitan region, there is a growing disconnect between the scale of housing and resilience challenges and the pace at which local jurisdictions are collectively responding. While the shortage of affordable housing is a regional issue, governance remains fragmented due to locally controlled zoning, creating a patchwork of regulations that often impedes housing development, reinforces exclusionary patterns, and undermines the region’s ability to respond effectively to climate-related risks like flooding.

In collaboration with RPA (Regional Plan Association), this capstone seeks to elevate the conversation around the need for a bold, statewide framework to address New York’s housing crisis in tandem with the growing pressures of climate change. The research begins by examining the proposed New York Housing Compact, the state’s most recent attempt at state-led intervention, and analyzing the structural and political shortcomings that ultimately prevented the proposal from materializing. To provide comparative insight, the study draws on New Jersey’s more established statewide planning framework, which illustrates the critical role of state governance in aligning local zoning with regional housing and climate resilience goals.

Through expert interviews with planners, policymakers, and housing advocates, this research captures on-the-ground perspectives and uncovers key implementation barriers and opportunities. Building on RPA’s work, the capstone underscores the urgency of a coordinated, statewide response that confronts the region’s housing shortfall and mounting climate vulnerabilities. It concludes with recommendations for reimagining state-led housing policy in New York—one that integrates climate resilience, advances zoning reform, and proactively plans for climate-informed development and shifts in regional growth patterns.