Bloomberg Businessweek ICYMI: Big Ideas on Display in Fast-Growing Big Apple Suburb
Aug 22, 2025
Yadira Ramos-Herbert, the Democratic Mayor of New Rochelle, discusses her city's innovative approach to tackling housing affordability. She highlights the “New Rochelle Model,” which streamlines development through public-private partnerships and tax incentives, leading to a 37% increase in housing supply. With 4,500 new units added and more on the way, Ramos-Herbert showcases how New Rochelle stands out in a region grappling with housing shortages. She also delves into community engagement and balancing development with environmental considerations.
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Front-Loaded Zoning Speeds Development
- New Rochelle created a form-based zoning code in 2015 to front-load approvals and environmental reviews.
- That lets developers get approval in ~90 days and lease units about three years after breaking ground.
Private Partners Fund Public Upgrades
- Public-private partnerships funded public amenities without raising property taxes.
- Investments included plazas, murals, EV chargers, a black-box theater, parklets and other downtown improvements.
More Supply, Lower Rents Locally
- New Rochelle added thousands of units while median rents fell from 2020–2023.
- The city authorized 11,000 units and is already leasing about two-thirds of them.