What does NYC Affordable Housing mean in the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan Rezoning?

New York City’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program requires certain new residential developments in rezoned areas to include permanent NYC affordable housing. Under Option 1—the most commonly applied requirement—25% of a project’s total residential floor area must be set aside for households earning an average of 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

This option is the one most likely to be applied in large neighborhood rezonings, including the pending One LIC and Jamaica Neighborhood Plan proposals.

A key detail: Of the required 25% affordable housing, at least 10% must be set at 40% AMI or below. The remaining 15% can be allocated across up to three income bands—such as 60%, 80%, 100%, or 130% AMI—but the overall average for all affordable units must still equal 60% AMI.

In 2025, 60% AMI for a family of three is about $87,480 annually, while 40% AMI is roughly $58,320. Affordable rents are calculated so households spend no more than 30% of their income on housing.

• At 60% AMI: $87,480 per year = $7,290/month → 30% = $2,187 max rent for a two-bedroom.

• At 40% AMI: $58,320 per year = $4,860/month → 30% = $1,458 max rent for a two-bedroom.

This structure ensures that a portion of new housing remains accessible to a range of income levels, while also providing deeper affordability for lower-income households.