CPC Hearing: Affordable Housing Fast Track Rules
On April 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., the New York City Planning Commission (CPC) will hold a public hearing on proposed rules to implement the new Affordable Housing Fast Track program, one of the ballot proposals approved by voters in last November’s election. These rules will shape how neighborhoods are
Another Piece of Yorkville’s History Shattered: St. Elizabeth of Hungary to Be Replaced by Luxury Condos
For more than 130 years, St. Elizabeth of Hungary at 213 East 83rd Street served as a spiritual home and cultural cornerstone for generations of German and Slovak immigrants in Yorkville. Built in 1893, the church stood at the heart of the neighborhood’s working-class community, sustaining faith, language, and tradition
The Doelger Building Deserves Protection, Not a Wrecking Ball
FRIENDS is deeply dismayed by reports that the Doelger Building will be demolished and replaced with a luxury condominium tower. Another irreplaceable piece of Yorkville’s architectural and cultural heritage now stands on the brink of erasure. The four-story Art Deco Doelger Building at Third Avenue and East 84th Street is
News from FRIENDS – Fall 2025
The Fall 2025 issue is here, delivering a powerful look at the most urgent preservation battles and victories shaping the Upper East Side. This issue dives into the crisis of affordable housing and development, featuring an Open Letter to Mayoral Candidates. You will also find an in-depth analysis of the
Mayor’s Charter Revision Push Goes to Voters This November
This November, New Yorkers will not only vote for elected officials—they will also decide on a series of ballot measures that could significantly expand mayoral authority and reshape longstanding mechanisms for community oversight in the city’s land use and development process. Behind the bureaucratic language of “streamlining” and “fast-tracking,” the
Advocacy Alert: Write to state lawmakers about concerning provisions in Faith-Based bill
The misleadingly named “Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act” has once again moved to the forefront in Albany — and it poses a serious threat to historic preservation and the character of neighborhoods across New York City.
Opposition Mounts Against Proposed 5G Tower at 1150 Madison Avenue
FRIENDS expressed strong opposition to the installation of a Link 5G tower at 1150 Madison Avenue.
FRIENDS Comments on Mayoral Charter Revision Commission
Mayor Adams has convened a new Charter Revision Commission (CRC) with the stated goal of addressing the city's housing crisis—but make no mistake: behind the headlines, this process could radically weaken public input and oversight over development in New York City. The NYC Charter is the foundational document that establishes
FRIENDS Issues Joint Statement Opposing Lenox Hill Hospital Redevelopment Proposal
FRIENDS testified at the July 10 City Planning Commission Public Hearing on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the New York City Department of City Planning's suite of zoning text amendments meant to encourage and incentivize housing creation and address the affordability crisis in the city. Friends was among some
Affordable Housing Loss in Yorkville
For the fifth time in recent years, there is a fast-moving proposal at the State level to lift the longstanding cap on residential development in New York City. Lifting the 12 FAR cap would potentially unleash a flood of development rights that are likely to yield more supertall superluxury development,