New York City aims to ease housing crisis with basement and attic conversions

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- New York City is doubling down on its plan to allow the conversion of basements, attics and backyard structures into extra housing.

Mayor Eric Adams and his team feel it would benefit seniors, particularly those struggling to afford the city.

Advocates for AARP joined Adams and his team inside City Hall on Monday. Those gathered pitched the accessory dwellings as a way for families caring for mom or dad to create a separate unit in their home.

Extra units could allow seniors who own a home to create rental income or keep their children from leaving the state.

There is an ongoing pilot program in the city that tests this. Adams said he is adding $4 million to that pilot to help people make these conversions and build a one-stop-shopping portal where people can apply to change their homes.

The pilot will now enable up to 35 conversions. However, none have even begun construction yet.

Adams said accessory dwellings are part of his effort to create 500,000 new homes during the next decade and rezone the city to combat the housing crisis.