Regional Plan Association’s (RPA) new study shows jarring statistics that explain that more than 80,000 housing units in the NYC area risk loss by floods in the next 15 years. The study goes into detail about zoning reform, climate adaptation and other actions that can be done to ensure a better future for the tri-state area.
The study explains that many of the nation’s housing crises are a result of restrictive zoning regulations. Zoning regulations refer to the rules determining how land can be used and which type of buildings can be constructed where. In addition to this, extreme weather events increasing from worsening global emissions will only exacerbate housing crises.
When planning land use for various communities, it’s especially important to not only consider how to accommodate population growth, but the climate risks involved of particular areas.
Did you know almost one million houses and multifamily buildings across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are at a high flood risk?
According to RPA, around 10.5% of residential-zoned land in the NYC area could face flooding in the near future. This could lead to the potential loss of 82,000 housing units by 2040. That number could double by 2070.
In other words, 60% of NYC’s community districts could experience housing losses in the next 15 years. Rockaways, South Ozone Park, and Canarsie are NYC’s most flood-prone areas, according to the report.
Counties of Westchester and Long Island have even lost 14,300 acres of forest since 2001, mainly due to sprawl, which refers to suburban areas being built across larger rural lands.
Furthermore, NYC, Long Island and Westchester could potentially need an additional 1.26 million units by 2040. At such a rate, RPA estimates a 680,000 housing unit deficit.
Thus, RPA proposes zoning reform and policies to combat this ominous estimate, with the goals of lowering flood risks and closing the housing deficit. RPA suggests “a more integrated approach to land use planning and policy initiatives to create safe, resilient, and affordable communities.”
You can explore more information and solutions expressed by RPA on the official averting crisis online study.