The New York City Mayor’s Office launched a new digital platform this week aimed at accelerating the construction of Ancillary Dwelling Units (ADU).
WXY led branding, design, content, and web production for the platform, dubbed ADU For You, which includes a guidebook with finance options and a library of pre-approved plans.
Platform users can decide between ready-made designs by Reform Architecture, ANE Design, Unit Two Development, FAR Architecture, VL Architects, BEAM Architects, EEREE, and SITU.
ADU For You stems from City of Yes and was developed in tandem with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Department of Buildings, Habitat for Humanity, and KMA.
The 280-square-foot studio space by SITU is based on a modular structural frame system developed by WikiHouse. (Courtesy HPD)
The pre-approved plans on ADU For You come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and costs. The most affordable home is $85,000, and the most expensive is $650,000.
“By making it easier for New Yorkers to turn their homes into an extra place for a loved one or a little more income, we’re allowing our city to grow while keeping the character of the neighborhoods we love,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement.
How does it work?
Users start by plopping their address into the website database to determine whether or not their property is eligible for ADU construction. Next, financial modeling tools will help stake out how much monetary value an ADU would deliver.
After eligibility and desirability has been established, users can plan their ADU using the platform’s pre-approved library, and begin construction. The platform can also help users get approval for occupancy before moving in or renting out.
The pre-approved designs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and costs. The most affordable pre-approved home is $85,000, and the most expensive is $650,000. (Courtesy HPD)
Mayor Eric Adams floated ADUs as a panacea to New York’s housing crisis back in 2023. In 2024, the city enacted major zoning reforms (Local Laws 126 and 127) to facilitate the construction of 1- and 2-family ADUs, at a maximum of 800 square feet.
In 2025, the city finalized rules pertaining to ADU construction for backyards and attics, culminating in this latest rollout by the Mamdani administration of the ADU For You platform.
Already, Los Angeles has implemented a comparable one-stop shop for ADUs, and now New York is following suit. The platform has support from AIANY, Regional Plan Association, Open New York, and other organizations.
“ADUs can create new opportunities for homeowners to age in place, generate rental income, and make space for family, all while adding new housing in a way that enables gentle growth and helps keep the overall character of neighborhoods intact,” said Adam Lubinsky, WXY principal.
“That balance,” Lubinsky added, “is the type of housing model that more cities should be looking to implement, and I’m excited to see New York City lead the way.”