New Rochelle's "New Rochelle Model" for Housing Development and Affordability

Addressing the National Housing Crisis

• 🏠 Housing affordability and supply remain critical issues across the U.S., with local zoning laws often hindering solutions.
• 💡 New Rochelle, NY, is presented as a city actively working to buck the trend by building more homes.

The "New Rochelle Model" Explained

• 🔑 The city's approach, dubbed the "New Rochelle Model," began in 2015 with a form-based zoning code.
• ⏱️ Key to this model is streamlining development approvals, aiming for approvals in as little as 90 days, a stark contrast to the typical 5-10 years.
• 🤝 This is achieved through public-private partnerships, which allow for community investment without raising property taxes.

Community Engagement and Development Outcomes

• 🏗️ Over the past decade, New Rochelle has added over 4,500 new housing units, with 6,500 more in the pipeline, a 37% increase in apartment supply.
• 📉 Remarkably, rents decreased by 2% from 2020 to 2023, making it a regional standout.
• 🎨 Community input has guided development, leading to enhancements like green spaces, dog runs, murals, and a new blackbox theater.
• 🌉 Projects like "The Link" aim to create linear parks and connect downtown areas, while "Project Landing" will offer waterfront access and mixed-use development.

Transportation and Infrastructure

• 🚆 New Rochelle is a transit-oriented development hub, being the second busiest line on the New Haven's lines and a hub for nine bus lines.
• 🛴 The city is investing in micromobility options like free electric shuttles ("The Circuit"), scooters, and bike lanes to address transportation needs sustainably.
• 🚉 Revitalization of the train station will provide direct service to Grand Central and Penn Station within 3-5 years.

Advice for Other Municipalities

• 🔍 Leaders are advised to know their communities and identify underutilized sites for development.
• ✅ Streamlining processes, not necessarily eliminating regulation, is key; frontloading environmental reviews provides clarity for developers.
• 💡 The "New Rochelle Model" offers a replicable framework for other cities facing similar housing challenges.