City officials are reviewing a new land‑use approval process that would accelerate construction of two tower developments on 3rd Avenue in the Upper East Side, with the intent of enabling larger affordable‑housing projects.
The proposal would allow developers to move more quickly through permitting, aiming to increase the supply of affordable apartments in a neighborhood that is among the city’s wealthiest and most densely populated, where such projects are rare.
Developers say the fast‑track is needed to build larger complexes that include affordable units, while residents have voiced opposition to the plan.