Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Senate housing committee advances vacant-rental improvement program amid affordability concerns
Summary
The Senate Committee on Housing advanced S.1399, codifying the state's Vacant Rental Improvement Program and allowing up to $75,000 per unit for repairs in buildings of up to five units outside New York City; lawmakers pressed sponsors on whether the 80% AMI requirement and per-unit caps produce sufficient affordability.
The Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development advanced S.1399 on Monday, a bill to codify the Vacant Rental Improvement Program and allow state funding of up to $75,000 per unit to return vacant units to the rental market.
Chair State Senator Brian Kalama, chair of the committee, said the bill codifies a program funded in the last two state budgets and administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). "The bill allows for up to $75,000 — that's a maximum," Kalama said. "It would be the amount necessary to make repairs that will get the apartment in decent shape." He said the program is available statewide outside New York City and is intended to help return individual vacant units to service rather than fund building-wide gut rehabs.
Supporters say the program is…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
