City Of Yes = More Units

No More Unit Caps in Manhattan & Downtown Brooklyn:

What That Really Means for Development

NYC’s City of Yes zoning reforms have officially lifted DU Factor caps in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn’s Special Districts.  That means no more limits on how many apartments you can build which is a major shift with big implications for density, yield, and design strategy.

At Meltzer/Mandl, we are already helping clients translate these changes into real, buildable opportunities.  Here is how we are supporting smarter development under the new rules:

✅ DU Scenario Modeling in Every Zoning Analysis

Tailored to your site and product strategy:

• 680 DU | Balanced 1BR/2BR rental mix

• 500 DU | High-density rental

• 800 DU | Luxury condo

✅ Realistic Floor Plan Studies

We go beyond the spreadsheet to test:

• Layout efficiency

• Construction viability

• Zoning compliance

✅ DOB-Ready Execution Strategies

Design and massing organized to avoid objections and maximize legal unit counts

Below is an example of a recent zoning analysis highlighting the opportunity. With the DU cap lifted, density and layout strategy are now more critical than ever. The right design approach can unlock significant value, and the wrong one can leave square footage, and revenue, on the table.

These zoning reforms represent a real opportunity to rethink what’s possible, and profitable, in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. If you're planning a project in these zones, now is the time to explore your site's full potential. Let’s talk about how we can help you turn policy changes into buildable, bankable solutions.

Zoning Analysis