| Rule |
Before City of Yes |
After City of Yes (Dec 2024) |
| Construction date requirement |
Pre-1991 — buildings built after 1990 were not eligible for conversion in most cases |
Exact new standard — confirm from adopted text whether the date restriction was modified or removed |
| Geographic eligibility |
Primarily Manhattan; specific districts only |
Citywide expansion confirmed — confirm exact district coverage from DCP adopted text |
| Office building types covered |
Limited to specific commercial uses in certain zoning districts |
Expanded use coverage — confirm from adopted text |
| Recognized Office District provision |
Did not exist |
New provision — confirm what it covers and which areas qualify |
| Manufacturing district conversions |
Generally not permitted for residential use |
M1 district changes — confirm what City of Yes opened for M1 paired with residential districts |
| Affordability requirements for conversion |
Varied by program and district |
What affordability requirements City of Yes layered onto conversions, if any |
| Overall effect |
Many well-located, physically suitable buildings were ineligible simply due to age or location |
Significantly broader eligibility — many buildings that could not convert before are now eligible |
Bottom line: City of Yes is the most significant expansion of NYC conversion eligibility in decades. If you own an office building that was previously told it could not be converted, that answer may have changed. A current zoning review is the only way to know.
