Mamdani Launches “SPEED” Reform to Accelerate Housing Delivery in New York — Will It Work?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani introduced a new plan designed to reduce the time required to build and deliver affordable housing in New York.

The initiative, called “SPEED,” promises to cut months — and in some cases years — of bureaucratic procedures that currently delay housing developments across the city’s five boroughs.

Why it matters: The SPEED reform seeks to accelerate permits, zoning changes, and housing lottery processes so that thousands of families can move into homes more quickly.

The administration says some projects could reduce timelines by as much as two years.

SPEED reform seeks to accelerate housing delivery and reduce bureaucracy in New York

According to the Office of the Mayor of New York City, the reforms cover every stage of affordable housing development — from environmental review and permits to final leasing procedures.

The proposal arrives amid one of the most severe housing crises New York has faced in decades, marked by soaring rents, low apartment availability, and lengthy waiting lists for affordable housing units.

One of the most significant changes will affect the “pre-certification” process for projects requiring zoning modifications. Currently, that process can take nearly two years, but the Mamdani administration claims it could be reduced to just six months.

NYC SPEED housing reform – PHOTO: EFE

In addition, the city plans to accelerate permit approvals for new construction projects and office-to-housing conversions, reducing those timelines by approximately five months.

The administration argues that current delays are caused not only by technical factors but also by outdated governmental systems.

“These delays are not inevitable. They are the result of broken systems and a lack of political will,” Mayor Mamdani stated while presenting the report.

Housing Connect will also be reformed

Another major component of the SPEED plan involves modernizing Housing Connect, the platform used for affordable housing lotteries in New York City.

Currently, many families wait months after construction is completed before approvals are finalized and they can move into units.

The city acknowledges that the system has become overly complicated, slow, and lacking transparency.

Under the proposed reforms, the administration says the time between project completion and move-in could decrease from 210 days to fewer than 100 days.

Dina Levy, commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, stated that the goal is to make the system faster and easier for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who depend on these opportunities.

NYC SPEED housing reform – PHOTO: Shutterstock

Housing affordability crisis continues affecting New York

The city has faced a severe affordability crisis for years.

High rental prices and historically low vacancy rates have made it increasingly difficult for working families to remain in many neighborhoods.

The issue particularly affects immigrant communities and low- to middle-income workers.

The Mamdani administration considers accelerating affordable housing construction an urgent priority in order to prevent more residents from leaving the city.

Ahmed Tigani stated that the reform also aims to send a clear message to the construction sector in order to encourage more housing development projects.

According to the SPEED report, the intention is to create more efficient processes without compromising construction safety or regulatory standards.

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Questions remain regarding implementation

Although the announcement was welcomed by groups advocating for more affordable housing, some experts warn that reducing bureaucracy alone will not automatically solve the shortage of available units.

The success of the plan will depend on the city’s ability to coordinate agencies, accelerate approvals, and maintain funding for new projects.

There are also concerns regarding whether the reforms can be implemented quickly within a municipal system historically known for complexity and slow processing.

For now, the administration insists that New York City must act faster in response to the housing crisis and that maintaining slow procedures is no longer a viable option.

What comes next: The first administrative reforms could begin rolling out in the coming months. Meanwhile, developers, housing organizations, and thousands of families will continue watching closely to see whether SPEED can fulfill its main promise: delivering affordable housing more quickly in New York City.