Current Issues in Affordable Housing in New York City

This program will provide an inside perspective on the future of affordable housing in New York City. Seasoned practitioners from the private and public sectors will discuss the role of the city, state and federal governments, in conjunction with for-profit developers and not-for-profit organizations, in building and preserving affordable housing. Participants will learn about the statutory, regulatory and business considerations underlying critical topics in affordable housing.

Three expert panels will present on the following:

• Rent Freezes, the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (HSTPA), and Nonpayment
• Case Study – Office to Residential Conversions
• The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA)

Program Fee:
$99 Member | $199 Nonmember
Government/Non-Profit/Academic: Free for Members | $70 Nonmember
Small Law Firm Member & Non-Legal Professional: $40

Doug Apple

CEO, 1811 Consulting

Daniel M. Bernstein

Member and Leader of the Tax Incentives and Affordable Housing Department at Rosenberg and Estis, P.C.

Erica F. Buckley

Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP

Rafael Cestero

CEO, Community Preservation Corporation (CPC)

John Cetra

FAIA, Co-Founder, CetraRuddy Architecture D.P.C.

Tim Collins

Partner, Collins Dobkin & Miller LLP

Tricia Dietz

 Assistant Commissioner for Housing Incentives, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

Rob Ehrlich

Partner, Lazarus Karp Ehrlich McCourt, LLP

Gerrald Ellis

Deputy General Counsel, Paths Development

Arielle Hersh

Director of Policy and New Projects, UHAB

Hon. Sandy Nurse

Member of the New York City Council

David Reiss

Professor, Cornell Law School

Thomas Silverstein

President & Executive Director, Poverty & Race Research Action Council

Alexander Tendler

Vice President at Vanbarton Group

Daniel Weisen

Senior Director at Eldridge Capital Management

9:00 am – 9:05 am        Introduction & Program Overview

Farhana H. Choudhury, Associate Counsel/Chief of Staff for Legal, NYSHCR

Julia A. Solo, Senior Vice President & Counsel at Federated National Land

9:05 am – 10:05 am       Panel 1: Rent Freezes, the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (HSTPA), and Nonpayment

This panel will focus on the impacts of the HSTPA that have limited rent increases for things like apartment and major capital improvements, the Mamdani administration’s proposal for an extended rent freeze, and post-pandemic rent collection challenges.

Organizers:

Farhana H. Choudhury, Associate Counsel/Chief of Staff for Legal, NYSHCR

Andrew M. Darcy, Pro Bono Counsel, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Moderator:

David Reiss, Professor, Cornell Law School

Panelists: 

Doug Apple, CEO, 1811 Consulting

Rafael Cestero, CEO, Community Preservation Corporation (CPC)

Tim Collins, Partner, Collins Dobkin & Miller LLP

Rob Ehrlich, Partner, Lazarus Karp Ehrlich McCourt, LLP

Topics will Include

• Trends in Court
• Long-Term Sustainability & Expectations Over the Next 5-10 Years
• Potential Solutions
• Public Commission

Question & Answer Session

Conclusions

10:05 am – 10:15 am    Break

10:15 am – 11:15 am     Panel 2: Office to Residential Conversions that include Affordable Housing

This panel will discuss the challenges and benefits to office-to-residential conversions in New York City, including land use considerations, challenges in design, the unique considerations of financing, the 467-m tax incentive and case studies.

Organizers:

Daniel M. Bernstein, Member and Leader of the Tax Incentives and Affordable Housing Department at Rosenberg and Estis, P.C.

Zachary L. Nathanson, Senior Associate Attorney at Adler & Stachenfeld LLP

Moderator:

Daniel M. Bernstein, Member and Leader of the Tax Incentives and Affordable Housing Department at Rosenberg and Estis, P.C.

Panelists: 

John Cetra, FAIA, Co-Founder, CetraRuddy Architecture D.P.C.

Tricia Dietz, Assistant Commissioner for Housing Incentives, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

Alexander Tendler, Vice President at Vanbarton Group

Daniel Weisen, Senior Director at Eldridge Capital Management

Topics will Include

• Land Use Considerations
• Partial Conversions
• Design Considerations in the Conversion Process
• 467-m: Eligibility Considerations
• 467-m: Applying for Tax Exemption Benefits
• Lender Considerations
• Case Studies

Question & Answer Session

Conclusions

11:15 am – 11:25 am     Break

11:25 am – 12:25 pm     Panel 3: The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA)

This panel will discuss the current status of the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA).  In December 2025, COPA passed the City Council but was vetoed by outgoing Mayor Adams on his last day in office. Mayor Mamdani and new City Council Speaker Menin did not attempt a veto override when the new City Council was seated in January, and the bill which passed City Council in December is effectively dead for the time being, although many advocates and politicians, including Mayor Mamdani, have vowed to continue the fight for COPA. It’s not clear where COPA will stand in May, but this panel will examine the history and advocacy behind COPA, its operation in Washington, DC and San Francisco, and potential constitutional challenges to the law.

Organizers:

Gerrald Ellis, Deputy General Counsel, Paths Development

Alexandra Hohauser, Associate at Nixon Peabody LLP

Moderator:

Gerrald Ellis, Deputy General Counsel, Paths Development

Panelists:

Erica F. Buckley, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP

Arielle Hersh, Director of Policy and New Projects, UHAB

Hon. Sandy Nurse, Member of the New York City Council

Thomas Silverstein,President & Executive Director, Poverty & Race Research Action Council

Topics will Include

• Overview of COPA, as proposed, in NYC
  • How COPA is designed to work within NYC’s existing preservation ecosystem
• Discussion of the main sticking points in getting COPA passed
• Current status of COPA in NYC
• Planning for implementation of COPA in NYC
• Discussion of COPA in Washington, DC and San Francisco
• Potential constitutional challenges
• Potential for voluntary COPA purchases

Question & Answer Session

Conclusions

12:25 pm – 12:30 pm     Closing Remarks

Farhana H. Choudhury, Associate Counsel/Chief of Staff for Legal at NYSHCR

Julia A. Solo, Senior Vice President & Counsel at Federated National Land

New York: 3.0 Professional Practice
New Jersey: 3.0 General
California: 3.0 General
Pennsylvania: 3.0 General
Connecticut: Available to Licensed Attorneys

Sponsoring Association Committee:
Housing and Urban Development, Farhana H. Choudhury & Julia A. Solo, Co-Chairs

Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! Please Contact:
Yelena Balashchenko, Manager, Business Development & Sponsorships | (212) 382-6608 | ybalashchenko@nycbar.org