Akerman Real Estate and Litigation Partner Richard G. Leland was quoted in Law360’s article “NYC Attys Say SEQRA Changes Would Unleash More Housing,” which examines proposed changes to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and their potential impact on real estate development and housing production across New York City.
The article focuses on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to streamline the environmental review process by exempting certain residential developments, a move aimed at reducing delays and addressing ongoing housing shortages. Attorneys note that the current framework can significantly extend project timelines and create additional hurdles for developers.
On the current environmental review process, Richard said, “It adds significant periods of time to the approval process — months and months. In some instances, years.”
The article also notes that these delays, along with the potential for legal challenges, can further slow development.