Overview

Costing over $1 billion a year, the 421a Real Estate Developer Tax Exemption program is the biggest tax giveaway no one has ever heard of. 421-a is the City’s single largest expenditure on housing, costing more than tenant vouchers, NYCHA, and subsidies for affordable housing development. In spite of the enormous price tag, the program creates mostly middle-income & luxury housing in gentrifying or gentrified neighborhoods. We need to stop funding luxury development and fund deeply affordable housing.

The Project

ANHD has led our member groups to advocate against the 421a Real Estate Developer Tax Exemption program, as well as written extensively on this tax exemption and the lack of true community benefit it offers to residents. When the program came up for renewal in Albany last year (2022), we were a key source of original research and analysis to give good housing and fiscal policy a fighting chance. Thanks to our advocacy, the legislature chose not to renew 421a. 

ANHD continues to be a resource for our member groups who want to fight for public accountability and a real public benefit in this tax exemption.

Recent Blogs and Media

Blog
July 28, 2015
On June 26, 2015 after a long campaign by the tenant and affordable housing movement both he Rent Laws and the 421a Developer Tax Break were renewed in Albany. The results, on both fronts, were not what the tenant movement had hoped despite running an excellent campaign to make 2015 the ‘Year of the Tenant.’
Blog
June 29, 2015
Today, the New York State government passed legislation that will hurt New York City tenants and further erode affordable housing throughout the city.
Blog
June 9, 2015
Mayor de Blasio made an important statement yesterday about the 421a Developers Tax Break, saying “If we can’t mend it, let’s end it.” The Mayor, Assembly Speaker Heastie and Assembly Member Wright have taken a leading position on rent regulation, pushing to close regulation loopholes that have enabled the loss of thousands of affordable apartments.

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