New York Housing Conference, Citizens Housing and Planning Council and NYSAFAH led a sign-on letter supporting the nomination of John Mangin to be Chair of the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals. John Mangin is highly qualified for the role and is well-suited to fulfill the administrative duties of the office while helping address the city’s housing crisis.
The letter was supported by 47 housing organizations. See the final PDF letter here, and the text below.
Dear Speaker Menin and Members of the New York City Council,
We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to express our support for the nomination of John Mangin to Chair the Board of Standards and Appeals. He is highly qualified for the role and is well-suited to fulfill the administrative duties of the office while helping address the city’s housing crisis.
The Board of Standards and Appeals is responsible for reviewing applications for zoning variances, zoning appeals, and the project-based relief allowed for new affordable housing developments under the Charter revisions recently approved by voters. The BSA is not a policymaking body or one that acts with broad discretion; it is responsible for administering its responsibilities under parameters established by law. Yet it is vitally important that the BSA’s review of affordable housing applications be technically sound, fair-minded, and timely. The appointment of a highly qualified leader to administer the new BSA procedures provides a bellwether of the City’s commitment to sustained affordable housing production.
John Mangin’s training as an attorney, expertise in land use and planning, and experience with the administration of applications for public approvals are precisely the type of background needed for the leader of the BSA. As a career public servant who early on recognized the severe affordability implications of our housing supply crisis, his appointment is particularly suited to the present moment, and his work has consistently displayed a commitment to the integrity and value of the institutions of government.
Our housing crisis is acute and growing – the vacancy rate was 1.4 percent, the lowest rate in 50 years, and nearly 500,000 households were severely rent burdened in 2023. To address the crisis, the city needs to increase housing supply and affordable housing. John Mangin’s expertise will help BSA carry out its role in this context.
As the Council performs its advice and consent on Mangin’s nomination, we strongly urge it to approve his appointment.
Sincerely,
Abundance New York
American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY)
Ascendant Neighborhood Development Corporation
Association for a Better New York
Brisa Builders Development LLC
Bronx Pro Group LLC
Catholic Community Relations Council
Citizens Housing & Planning Council
Community Service Society of New York
Curtis + Ginsberg Architects LLP
Dattner Architects
Enterprise Community Partners
ESKW/Architects
Fifth Avenue Committee
Gans & Company
Holland & Knight
Housing Rights Initiative
Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing
K2New Business Development
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
LionFox
LiveOn NY
Mega Contracting
MDG
Milestone Development LLC
New Destiny Housing
New York Building Congress
New York Housing Conference
NY State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH)
NYC New Liberals
Open New York
Partners for Dignity and Rights
Phipps Houses
Regional Plan Association
RiseBoro
Shakespeare Gordon Studio
Sheldon Lobel, P.C.
Sisters of Charity Housing Development Corporation
Slate Property Group
Supportive Housing Network of NY
The Delaine Companies
UAI
UHAB
Urban Factors
VIP Community Services
West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing
Xenolith Partners