**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **
PRESS RELEASE for: Thursday, December 18, 2025
Media Contact: Reuben Torres | [email protected] | (551) 287-9805
NEW YORK, NY — Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine today issued Housing Manhattanites 2025, a review on and update to his 2023 housing report that set a housing agenda and bold housing goals for the borough.
Nearly 10,000 units from the original plan’s 171 identified sites are progressing, having reached milestones in engagement, predevelopment, or construction. An additional 9,500 units can now move forward thanks to the historic Midtown South rezoning, with more future units unlocked by the passage of City of Yes through Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) and office-to-residential conversions.
“We are in the deepest affordability crisis in our city’s history, and there is no sugarcoating the numbers,” said Manhattan Borough President Levine. “But this report proves that paralysis isn’t inevitable. By working across levels of government and actually listening to neighbors, we’ve moved thousands of homes forward in just two years. We turned a manufacturing zone into a neighborhood in Midtown South and found dozens of new sites where density makes sense. The blueprint works, but we have to scale it up immediately.”
One of the most exciting updates to the Borough President’s 2023 housing report is the identification of a major opportunity for a mixed-use neighborhood along the 12th Avenue waterfront in West Harlem. A rezoning of this underutilized manufacturing area could unlock more than 1,500 new housing units. With a holistic vision that incorporates local retail, improved transit access, and close collaboration with the community, this district has the potential to transform into a vibrant and inclusive waterfront hub.
Additionally, thanks to a borough-wide crowdsourcing effort organized by the Borough President’s Office, more than 90 potential housing sites were submitted by the public. 34 of those sites were deemed viable and able to deliver 2,939 additional housing units, including over 350 affordable homes.
Key Highlights from Housing Manhattanites 2025
- 9,471 Units Advanced: Since the original 2023 report, 35 specific sites across 11 community districts have moved forward. These range from 100% affordable projects to mixed-income and market-rate developments.
- Midtown South Unlocked: Following the August 2025 approval of the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, a 42-block area—where housing was previously illegal—is now zoned for over 9,500 new homes, including nearly 3,000 permanently affordable units.
- Crowdsourcing New Sites: The Borough President’s office asked residents to identify where they wanted to see housing. After reviewing over 90 submissions, the office further explored 34 new sites—mostly underutilized lots—that could accommodate nearly 3,000 units. An additional rezoning area along 12th Avenue could unlock thousands more.
- Office Conversions Taking Root: Leveraging new state rules, 25 office-to-residential conversion projects have been reported, representing a potential 8,000+ new homes.
While the report documents undeniable momentum, it is clear that the scale of the crisis still demands far more housing, faster. More than 45% of Manhattan households remain rent-burdened, and average rents continue to climb.
Housing Manhattanites 2025 closes with a call to sustain and accelerate the progress already underway: saying yes to new neighbors, embracing thoughtful density, converting underused buildings into homes, and advancing policy at every level of government to ensure Manhattan remains a place where New Yorkers of all incomes can live and thrive.
The full report is available at: https://www.manhattanbp.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Housing-Manhattanites-2025-V7.pdf