Livable Neighborhoods Program

Supporting New Yorkers to become stronger advocates for their neighborhoods

The Livable Neighborhoods Program (LNP) was founded on the principle that community involvement is essential to city planning. Each year, MAS works with a cohort of community advocates—such as organizers, community board members, and other local leaders—to help them develop the knowledge and tools needed to participate effectively in public review processes around land use issues, like rezonings. Sessions range from exploring how planning decisions are made in New York City to supporting local advocacy and civic participation.

Photos from the 2024 LNP Kick-Off event at Morgan North

Curriculum

Unit 1: How are Policy Decisions Made?

• 1.1: New York City Government Structure
• 1.2: City, State, and Federal Agencies
• 1.3: Legislative and Budget Processes

Unit 2: What Does Land Use and Zoning Look Like in NYC?

• 2.1: Zoning and Floor Area Ratio
• 2.2: Transferable Development Rights
• 2.3: Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and Area Median Income

Unit 3: What is the Land Use Review Process in NYC?

• 3.1: City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR)
• 3.2: Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP)

Unit 4: What Does Historic Preservation and Cultural Heritage Look Like?

• 4.1: Historic Preservation and Landmark Designation Processes
• 4.2: Community Heritage and Cultural Heritage

Unit 5: How Can the Public Get Involved in the Decision-Making Process?

• 5.1: Testifying at Public Hearings
• 5.2: Coalition Building and Civic Engagement

Partnerships

Since 2007, LNP has collaborated with dozens of community-based partners across the five boroughs. Past work has included workshops on navigating City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) and the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) as a community member, placemaking exercises, and a land use curriculum for a youth summer program.

Resources

Included below are videos of panel discussions that MAS has hosted on related topics.

• MAS YouTube Channel
• Exploring History and Advocacy at the People’s Beach – video
• New Perspectives on Refining CEQR: A Look Back at Citywide Development – video
• Towards Comprehensive Planning: New York City in Conversation – video
• Towards Comprehensive Planning: Preserving Historic and Cultural Resources – video
• Towards Comprehensive Planning: Public Participation and Strengthening Community Capacity – video

Contact

You can contact the Livable Neighborhoods Program at lnp@mas.org.