Due to strong demand in the multifamily sector, the real estate market in New York City is on an upswing from pandemic price lows in 2020. The continued price rise of multifamily housing across the five boroughs seems to rebuff notions of a sustained metro-to-suburban migration for the city, which had been a hallmark of the pandemic. Prices remain high, with the Brooklyn area reigning as the capital of New York’s seller’s market. However, the market for New York real estate developers is a different story.
With the coming change in New York City’s mayoral administration and the looming expiration of 421a (a vital affordable housing tax credit for real estate developers), some developers and their vendors, specifically those who will rely on 421a’s tax credit benefits, are extremely wary of starting new projects. A developer who wants to get a project off the ground with 421a’s benefits would be hard pressed to meet the requirements for the tax credit, which is to have laid a project’s foundation by June 15th, 2022.
Although some insiders believe that Mayor-elect Eric Adams will be pro-development, his focus won’t be on seeing luxury residential projects break ground. Adams expects the industry to continue its focus on investments in underserved neighborhoods, and 421a’s generous benefits would motivate steady private investments in those communities. Insiders believe that New York State is likely to renew, or come up with a replacement, for 421a, but until any formal announcements, there will be a hard pause on new ground-up affordable housing projects, including some market-rate multifamily projects.
Multifamily prices will likely continue to rise as developers halt any new ground-up affordable projects until 421a is renewed or the State of New York adopts an alternate tax credit scheme. Once a new scheme is in place, there’s potential to see multifamily prices fall as supply is regenerated.
What’s New in NY Real Estate Development?
New zoning approvals in SoHo are set to replace 60 years of code to encourage new retail and residential development. There’s potential for the project to generate 600 to 1,000 new affordable units. However, there’s concern that these new codes will provide incentives for luxury hotels, luxury condos, and/or high-end commercial office space developments that end up displacing lower-income residents.
KRR and Wells Fargo buck the trend and take the bet that employees will want to return to the office by looking to expand their investment in the Hudson Yards prestigious class A commercial office space. The bullish take on commercial offices suggests that some blue chip financial services firms believe there will be a return to full in-person or hybrid work models.
JLL has been selected to partner with New York City to roll out a proptech pilot program across the city for almost a half billion sq. ft. of city owned and managed assets. The program’s goal will be to find startup ventures interested in working with the city's Economic Development Corp., the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and the New York City Housing Authority to improve the quality of life for tenants and address building sustainability.
Exciting Projects in New York City
Affirmation Tower by developers Peebles Corp. is a proposed 2 million square-foot, $3.5 billion development. If approved, Affirmation tower is set to break history by becoming the first African American-owned skyscraper in New York City’s history as well as serve as a symbol of progress for people of color all over the united states.
Demolition is about to start on a 40-story building that will yield 343,100 square feet of office space and replace a 66-year-old structure in Midtown East, developed by 415 Madison Avenue LLC.
The Tangram project is an $800 million mixed-use development in Flushing, Queens, developed by F&T Group and SCG America. Some of the features of the development will include a new Olympic size heated indoor swimming pool, a one-acre indoor garden that is set to be plated with 50 cherry trees, and an outdoor pavilion with a dedicated mediation area and lounges. Individual units are being priced at $700k to $3 million.
New York City is set to issue two RFPs in the new year for the remaining two parcels, D and E, at Hunters Point South, a mixed-use community and waterfront in Long Island City. The Hunter’s Point South project is transforming the Long Island City waterfront to bring more affordable, accessible, and sustainable residences for New Yorkers. According to the land-use community, either parcels D or E will likely become a soccer field or recreation area, mainly due to the substantial development in the area. However, the other parcel may be a site for multifamily housing given that the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development is still shy of their 5,000 unit plan for the area.
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New York Digest