Climate Change Gets Real: NYC Offers Flood-Prone Home Buyouts

"The City of New York "is considering buying homes from residents of a small flood-prone section of Flushing, potentially presenting homeowners with the tough choice of selling and relocating or putting their faith in a series of projects aimed at reducing the chronic risk from storms,"  reported WNYC's Gothamist. "The voluntary buyout strategy, supported by local elected officials and debated by residents of the neighborhood, is one of several proposals from the Adams administration for protecting residents in and around Kissena Park. The acquisition program being developed would mark the first time the city offered to purchase inland properties, away from the coast, that are vulnerable to flooding from intense storms like Hurricane Ida."

Meanwhile, "a panel of judges from the State Appellate Division's First Judicial Department on May 16 reinstated a lawsuit filed by a small coalition of co-op and building owners challenging New York City’s building emissions law, Local Law 97," reported NYSAR. "The judges’ decision modifies a November 2023 State Supreme Court ruling from the State Supreme Court that had dismissed the suit. In reversing the dismissal of one of the claims, the judges' panel ruled that the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act may preempt the City’s Local Law 97." see more in Habitat Magazine. 

City Council Member Linda Lee (D-Bayside, Floral Park) recently introduced a package of bills ( Int. 768, Int. 769, and Int. 772) to amend the City’s Local Law 97, which requires large buildings to decarbonize, by further delaying penalties and raising emissions limits for thousands of buildings. The bills would provide relief to coop and condo owners who have raised concerns with the high costs of cutting their emissions. Hell Gate NYC reported on it in April.