Mayor is on the right track with plan to help legalize basement apartments.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has proposed a plan to legalize and bring basement apartments up to code, which could provide affordable housing options for immigrants, low-income residents, and others. Currently, many New Yorkers live in illegal basement units that lack proper safety features, resulting in tragic incidents like the drowning of 11 people during Hurricane Ida. Adams' plan, part of the City of Yes housing plan, would apply to basement apartments on one- and two-family properties and could accommodate multigenerational families, health aides, or local workers. The city comptroller's office estimates that there are up to 100,000 basement apartments housing around 400,000 people in New York City. However, the cost of constructing and bringing basement apartments up to code can be high, ranging from $300,000 to $400,000. To address this, the state has distributed grants of up to $125,000, and the mayor's plan would combine these grants with a city subsidy to provide awards of up to $395,000 each to homeowners. The goal is to increase the number of safe and legal housing units available in the city. The proposal aligns with a national trend of considering accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a solution to housing shortages. However, the high cost of constructing ADUs and the lack of financing options have hindered their widespread adoption. The mayor's plan would also require changes to the Multiple Dwelling Law, which would need approval from state officials. The [Extracted from the article]