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Bill

A 10632

Establishes the Redeveloping Empty and Vacant Infrastructure for Vibrant Economies Act or the REVIVE Act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Simone and 1 co-sponsor

The REVIVE Act streamlines by-right residential or mixed-use redevelopment of vacant commercial/parking parcels, accelerating housing supply with ministerial, time-bound approvals.

REFERRED TO HOUSING
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 10632

Overview

  • bill: A 10632 (REVIVE Act) for the 2025-2026 New York session
  • Purpose: Create a streamlined framework to convert stranded commercial/parking properties into residential or mixed-use developments, addressing vacant/underutilized sites and advancing housing goals while balancing local control.
  • Status: Introduced March 13, 2026; referred to the Assembly Committee on Housing
  • Take effect: Immediate upon enactment

What the bill seeks to accomplish

  • Transform vacant or underused parcels in commercial, office, retail, or parking zones into residential or mixed-use communities.
  • Remove or reduce zoning barriers that hinder adaptive reuse of stranded assets.
  • Promote housing supply and community development by repurposing existing infrastructure rather than expanding outward.

Key definitions (Article 17: REVIVE Act)

  • Adaptive reuse: Repurposing existing buildings, structures, or lots for residential purposes.
  • Serviced lot: A parcel connected to municipal water and sewer or with equivalent infrastructure.
  • Ministerial review: Non-discretionary approval based on objective standards (no public hearings or subjective local review).
  • Commercial zone: Areas designated for commercial, office, retail, or parking uses (not typically industrial zones unless residential is expressly permitted).
  • Parking uses: Parcels zoned only for parking, with no other allowed development.
  • Eligible project: A residential or mixed-use development meeting criteria in §531.
  • Vacancy rate: Percentage of unoccupied or unused square footage.
  • Eligible project site: Parcel(s) on which an eligible project is developed.

Eligible projects and eligibility criteria

  • Residential or mixed-use projects are deemed eligible and permitted by right on qualifying parcels.
  • Eligibility criteria:
    1. Site size at least 15,000 square feet.
    2. Located in commercial zones or parcels designated for commercial/office/retail/parking.
    3. Vacancy rate of at least 50% for a continuous year before applying.
    4. Is a serviced lot.
    5. Not part of an active payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement, with certain exceptions for large municipalities (see §531 cross-reference).

Density, height, parking, and other requirements

  • Density:

    • Urban areas: at least 20 dwelling units per acre.
    • Non-urban areas: at least 15 dwelling units per acre.
    • Maximum density: must meet whichever is greater between the new minimum and the higher of the municipality’s current density as of Jan 1, 2026 (within 1 mile) or the minimum required.

  • Height:

    • City with 1 million+ inhabitants: eligible sites may exceed the existing maximum height by up to 10 feet after Jan 1, 2026; if nearby zoning allows higher, the site can reach that higher height.
    • Smaller cities/towns/villages: may reach the maximum height otherwise applicable within the municipality after Jan 1, 2026.

  • Parking:

    • No more than one parking space per dwelling unit may be required or imposed for eligible projects.

  • Review timelines and process:

    • Urban areas:
    • Applications reviewed by the municipality within 60 days for projects under 150 units; 90 days for 150+ units.
    • If timelines are missed, the project is automatically deemed approved.
    • Public access to a standardized ministerial review process with clear timelines and submission requirements.
    • If rejected, municipalities must provide a letter detailing the specific eligibility standards or zoning requirements not met.
    • Non-binding design review hearings permitted but must not extend the mandated timelines.

Affected parties and scope

  • Developers seeking to convert eligible vacant or underused parcels in commercial zones into residential/mixed-use projects.
  • Municipalities (cities, towns, villages) with areas in commercial/parking zones, particularly those facing housing shortages or stranded assets.
  • Property owners of serviced lots meeting eligibility criteria and not under PILOT constraints (subject to PILOT-related provisions).

Procedural and timing notes

  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.
  • The act adds a new Article 17 to the Real Property Law, creating standardized rules for eligibility, review, and development standards.
  • Emphasizes objective, timely, ministerial (non-discretionary) approval processes to accelerate redevelopment.
  • Grants explicit density and height increases in certain circumstances to facilitate redevelopment, while capping parking requirements.

Potential impacts

  • Accelerated conversion of vacant shopping centers, office parks, and parking lots into housing and mixed-use communities.
  • Expanded housing supply in urban and near-urban areas, potentially improving affordability and neighborhood revitalization.
  • Reduced regulatory friction for eligible projects, subject to compliance with defined criteria and timelines.
  • Local control remains via ministerial review standards, but with time-bound approval and explicit density/height allowances to encourage redevelopment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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