BY JILL D’AMICO

Shaun Donovan, commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, spoke to a rapt crowd during his June 3 presentation to the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. His presentation was the centerpiece of a forum, held at the Dibner Library at Polytechnic University, and presented by the Chamber’s Real Estate and Development committee.

At the heart of Commissioner Donovan’s message was the long-held tenet of the Bloomberg administration that the city will welcome an additional million residents by 2030. This comes with unique challenges, he noted, including finding affordable housing.

“New York City is a magnet,” said the commissioner. “Whether the infrastructure, transportation or housing stock is ready, people are still going to come.”

To meet this need, Mayor Bloomberg’s administration created an ambitious ten-year, $7.5 billion action plan to meet this need. Originally half the size and scope, the plan combines an aggressive development strategy with partnerships and incentives to entice developers into helping meet that need.

By tapping into resources like fallow municipal sites, continuing a policy of inclusionary zoning, and partnering with other city agencies and the private market, the plan is well underway. The city has rezoned nearly a fifth of its land under the Bloomberg administration, ushering in a new era of urban planning and marked by high-density thoroughfares and preservation of the low-rise character of most residential neighborhoods.

“If you’re willing to live with density, you’re going to get affordable housing,” said the commissioner.

They have been successful thus far: the Independent Budget Office confirmed that HPD is on track to create 165,000 affordable units by 2013, which is estimated to handle the current population.

The commissioner also touched on the sub-prime crisis, announcing that the Center for New York City Neighborhoods, a non-profit funded by city, federal and private donations, will offer counseling, loan assistance, and education to people affected.

To download a .pdf of the Commissioner's presentation, click here.

Pictured above: HPD Commissioner Shaun Donovan.  (Photo by Jill D'Amico)