In a country already dealing with a housing scarcity, a new analysis finds that climate change is exacerbating the situation in the Tri-State region. The Regional Plan Association (RPA) warns coastal cities across the United States to face this fact head on.
1 million homes could be lost to flooding
Flooding in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut could cause the loss of both existing residences and future developments. The RPA research intends to advise city and state governments on how to protect roughly 1 million properties from high-risk floods in these states.
The RPA concentrated on eastern New York City and its surrounding suburbs, revealing a 1.2 million-home housing deficit as land became increasingly unsuitable for development owing to flood threats. The organization argues that zoning reform can help to solve both the housing problem and the issue of climate-related flooding.
Zoning laws, which govern what can be built in specific locations, are extremely important. Currently, the National Zoning Atlas predicts a 680,000-home gap by 2040, as current residential zoning barely allows for 45% of possible home construction.
How has New York City addressed flooding concerns?
The RPA sees this gap as a chance to address both the housing deficiency and flood hazards, while also taking into account infrastructure and environmental implications.
New York City housing reforms
New York City’s “City of Yes” housing reforms could add 82,000 new housing units, reducing the study area’s housing deficit from 758,000 to 676,000, or 11%.
However, the RPA emphasizes that this is only the beginning. The reforms make it easier to build more homes in every neighborhood, expanding New Yorkers’ housing options and lowering costs.
How has New York City addressed flooding concerns?
Looking ahead, the RPA’s findings indicate that over 80,000 homes in New York City’s suburbs could be lost to flooding within the next 15 years, putting 1.6 million people at risk.
Coastal flooding has been a persistent issue for the city, especially since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. City officials have responded by implementing infrastructure measures to protect waterfront neighborhoods from storm surges.
The New York City Department of City Planning has updated its zoning regulations, paving the way for flood-resistant buildings, lower insurance costs, and faster disaster recovery. In addition, the city created Special Coastal Risk Districts in 2017 to address flood-prone areas.
The RPA estimates that more than 360,000 homes are required to combat overcrowding in New York City—an urgent figure that could triple over the next 15 years.
