Council Reforms on Basement Apartments - Assignment Example

Council Reforms on Basement ApartmentsThe problem being addressed is the illegality of basement apartments in New York City. The story of the Sarkars is one of the many heartrending stories told in New York Times, portraying housing as a “nightmare” for immigrants mostly. There are many New Yorkers residing in illegal basements and cellars (Navarro, 2013). Housing woes in the state of New York began in the early 1970’s when the city lost 800,000 people to arson and abandonment. The city had taken ownership of 100,000 housing units, thus making the department of housing and development the second largest proprietor in the city.

The fiscal crisis had hit the city forcing the government to forge creative ways to house its people. In the 1980 and 1990s, the city’s housing expenditures amounted to more than three times the housing expenditures for the next 32 years (Tauranac, 1979). This was facilitated by former Mayor Ed Koch’s ten-year plan on housing. Initially, Koch intended the plan to be actualized in five years. However, due to the increase in illegal housing units, and the inability of the state to provide housing the plan was stretched (Navarro, 2013).

The graph below shows the increase in illegal apartments in New York between 1983 and 2013.Figure 1: Illegal housing units (apartments)Challenges however have rocked the housing sector forcing people to take up alternative housing for example cellars and basement apartments. The government however does not support this action, as these housing units are not fit for human occupancy due to health and safety risks as specified by The New York City Building or Housing Maintenance code, Article 5- Occupancy of cellars and basements.

 The policy targeted for reforms is the Housing Maintenance Code, (ARTICLE 5- Occupancy of Cellars and Basements). It states that basements, cellars, and “granny flats,” should not be rented or occupied due to health and safety measures. This policy can be found on the website: http://tenant.net/Other_Laws/HMC/sub3/arthttp://www.nycrgb.org/html/resources/hmcLiterature reviewScholarly information used in this project covers a range of topics. They include). a. Peer literatures that expound on the topic of – Rudel, T. K. (1984).

Local news articles will be used. These articles will cover issues based on the following:a. Alternatives for the legalization of basement apartments- http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/nyregion/looser-rules-on-illegal-housing-sought.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0b. The local woes of affected tenants renting out their basement apartments- http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/nyregion/looser-rules-on-illegal-housing-sought.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0c. Increase of illegal housing units- http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-21/illegal-nyc-homes-thrive-as-de-blasio-tackles-housing.htmld. Solutions to legalization of basement illegal apartments- http://www.

crainsnewyork.com/article/20130217/REAL_ESTATE/302179985/illegal-solution-for-more-housingAs you are aware, Statistics from The housing experts estimate that there are 100,000 illegal apartments in New York City. Last year, Buildings Department officials acknowledged 18,126 complaints concerning illegal units (Belsha, n.d.). The City’s Department of Buildings’- DOB issues annually more than 4,440 violations for illegal conversion of basements, cellars, and attics: - which are not fit for human occupancy due to health and safety risks.

I have compared the policy outlawing basement apartments, with an intention of eradicating this issue. ReferencesBelsha, K. (n.d.). Battle Plan Vs. Illegal Housing. City Limits News. Retrieved March 7, 2014,from http://www.citylimits.org/news/articles/3930/battle-plan-vs-illegal-housingDeprez, E. E. (2013, November 21). Illegal NYC Homes Thrive as De Blasio TacklesHousing. Bloomberg.com. Retrieved March 11, 2014, from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-21/illegal-nyc-homes-thrive-as-de-blasio-tackles-housing.

htmlMoroni, N. (2013, February 17). Illegal solution for more housing?. Latest from Crains NewYork Business. Retrieved March 11, 2014, from http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130217/REAL_ESTATE/302179985/illegal-solution-for-more-housingNavarro, M. (2013, October 13). Looser Rules on Illegal Housing Sought. The New York Times.Retrieved March 6, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/nyregion/looser-rules-on-illegal-housing-sought.html?pagewanted=allNYC Housing Maintenance Code. (n.d.).

NYC Housing Maintenance Code. Retrieved February21, 2014, from http://tenant.net/Other_Laws/HMC/sub3/artRudel, T. K. (1984). HOUSEHOLD CHANGE, ACCESSORY APARTMENTS, AND LOWINCOME HOUSING IN SUBURBS*. The Professional Geographer,36(2), 174-181.Top of FormTauranac, J. (1979). Essential New York: A guide to the history and architecture of Manhattan'simportant buildings, parks, and bridges. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.