Housing & Real Estate Active Updated Aug 17, 2026
The zoning board chair fight
Mayor Mamdani nominated City Planning housing director John Mangin to chair the Board of Standards and Appeals, the city panel that grants zoning relief and, under last year's charter amendments, fast-tracks fully affordable housing projects with a hearing within three months instead of the standard ULURP timeline. Council members are balking at Mangin over his record attacking what he called wealthy homeowner cartels blocking dense housing, and a majority say they would be uncomfortable confirming him as things stand. The outcome will shape how quickly affordable housing projects can clear zo
The story so far
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Aug 17, 2026 Latest
Speaker Julie Menin said a majority of City Council members would be uncomfortable confirming John Mangin to chair the Board of Standards and Appeals as of Sunday, with no confirmation hearing yet scheduled, while Comptroller Mark Levine publicly backed Mangin as exactly the kind of leader the city needs amid its housing affordability crisis.
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Aug 9, 2026
Council members balked at Mayor Mamdani's pick to chair the Board of Standards and Appeals, City Planning housing director John Mangin, over his record attacking "wealthy homeowner cartels" that block dense housing, Politico reported. Deputy Mayor for Housing Leila Bozorg called Mangin "exactly the kind of leader" the board needs, while Bronx land-use chair Kevin Riley and other Council members disagreed, and an unnamed member said a majority would be uncomfortable voting for him as it stands.
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