Woodlawn residents push City Council to ease restrictions affecting family visits and local tourism
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New York City’s historic Irish enclaves are pushing back against restrictive short-term rental regulations that have made it increasingly difficult for overseas visitors to stay with family and friends in traditional neighborhoods. Woodlawn in the Bronx, one of the city’s last remaining Irish strongholds, has become a focal point in the debate over Local Law 18, which imposed strict limitations on short-term accommodations two years ago. The 2022 legislation was designed to prevent large-scale landlords from converting residential properties into de facto hotels, but community advocates argue it has created unintended consequences for working families and neighborhood character. Matthew Carey Salyer, proprietor of The Burren Public House in Woodlawn, has emerged as a vocal advocate for sensible reform. As both a business owner and father raising children in the neighborhood, Salyer understands how vital Irish visitors are to local businesses and community vitality.
The Impact of Local Law 18
The current restrictions place significant burdens on one- and two-family homeowners who might want to host relatives or friends from overseas. Under existing rules, hosts cannot place locks on private rooms, creating security concerns. More critically, the limitation allowing only two guests at a time means families of four face difficult choices when visiting loved ones in the outer boroughs. According to NYC planning data, these restrictions disproportionately affect neighborhoods like Woodlawn and parts of Queens where immigrant communities maintain strong ties to their countries of origin. New York City attracted more than 250,000 Irish visitors in 2023 alone, according to NYC & Company. These tourists contribute significantly to local economies, particularly in outer-borough neighborhoods where affordable accommodation options have historically helped sustain small businesses like pubs, restaurants, and retail shops.
Proposed Legislative Solution
A new proposal before the City Council, Intro 948A, would make targeted fixes to address the law’s shortcomings without undermining its original intent. The legislation would allow one- or two-family homeowners to host up to four guests, accommodating typical family sizes, even when the homeowner is not present. It would also permit locks on private bedrooms and home offices, ensuring reasonable security for both hosts and guests. The bill represents a careful balance between preventing large-scale commercial exploitation of residential properties and recognizing the legitimate needs of families who want to share their homes with visiting relatives. Salyer emphasizes that these changes would have minimal impact on the city’s housing stock while making a substantial difference for working-class families trying to maintain their homes and cultural connections.
Economic and Cultural Considerations
The cost of living in New York City now sits 72 percent higher than the national average, making it increasingly difficult for blue-collar families to afford property taxes, mortgages, and utilities. The ability to host paying guests occasionally provides crucial supplemental income that helps families stay in homes they’ve owned for generations. Beyond economics, the issue touches on cultural preservation. Irish weddings at St. Barnabas parish, holiday gatherings, and other community events depend on visitors being able to stay nearby rather than facing long commutes from Manhattan hotels where nightly rates continue to climb. Research from the Urban Institute’s housing research center shows that overly restrictive short-term rental policies often fail to achieve their housing affordability goals while imposing significant costs on working families and immigrant communities. Since Local Law 18 took effect, rental vacancy rates have remained essentially flat, and rents have continued rising, suggesting the restrictions haven’t delivered their promised benefits.
Path Forward
Community advocates are urging the City Council to act swiftly on Intro 948A. The proposed reforms would maintain strong protections against commercial abuse while restoring common-sense flexibility for families. For neighborhoods like Woodlawn, passage of this legislation could mean the difference between maintaining vibrant cultural identity or watching another generation of families forced to leave due to financial pressures. As Salyer puts it, the changes would ensure that Irish communities remain strong for longtime residents and overseas visitors alike, preserving the unique character that makes New York City’s outer boroughs special.
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