That’s because its creation was the last time new affordable housing for artists in New York City was built. That reflects a larger trend: Over the past 25 years, New York City built 329 affordable apartments for artists. And though the amount of New York City artists grew by about 35% between 2004 and 2019, the city lost more than 4% of its artists since then, according to the Center for an Urban Future. Affordable housing is subsidized so that rents do not exceed a third of a tenant’s income. And whether the government should prioritize developing affordable housing with set-asides for artists in a city with a persistent housing crisis — and hefty competition for even moderately affordable housing — remains a point of tension.