TOD-Ready? Lessons for Housing from NYC Suburbs

The United States faces a nationwide housing affordability crisis exacerbated by exclusionary zoning and outdated housing policies. Cities have long suffered from unaffordability, but now, more than ever, their suburbs are mirroring – and compounding – the problem. Historically, suburbs played an important role in easing housing shortages and costs metro-wide. However, many counties surrounding New York City, including on Long Island, have among the nation’s lowest rates of suburban new and multifamily housing production. As a result, this traditional relief valve for city housing costs is becoming an exacerbating factor. Action by suburban counties to facilitate development is therefore critically important for the entire metro area.

Denser, multifamily housing accessible to transit is particularly beneficial for sustainability, equity, and affordability. Now, as decades-long housing underproduction compounds broader patterns of housing-cost increases, some jurisdictions are advancing innovative development, with a particular focus on badly needed transit-oriented development (TOD). This case study frames the NYC metro housing context and highlights Suffolk County’s innovative TOD Readiness Index and other efforts to further TOD. Learn nationally relevant takeaways for addressing housing needs and related challenges.

NPC Peer Reviewers assigned this presentation a learning level of Intermediate. For more on learning-level descriptions, visit our General Information Page.