Yes.
Start b eliminating real estate investors and forcing landlords OUT of residential real estate entirely
This does absolutely nothing to address the situation that X people want to live where Y units are available, and X>>Y.
Which shows, that investors can be a factor to the problem, by either choosing to maximize profits for selfish gain, or keep rents minimized despite excess demand.
Almost every square inch of New York is already covered.
We could call them tallrises, skytouchers or something like that.
You said: "Might be an easier solution than upending property rights entirely."
My point was that land is owned by someone already, skyscraper or not.
So if you want to force people to make highrises, you will have to take their land. Good luck with that.
Alternative: don't crowd all into one city, there's plenty of land and many jobs can be remote now.
How much denser would you like the new regulations to be btw? Do you know the current density?
Do you think that NYC in its entirety is dense enough?
I assume you knew since you were advocating loosening the restriction. What's the restriction?
How much more dense should it be in your suggestion?
Until it's decided, no one can proceed with your idea right?
How in the world would it be if they are privately owned buildings?
Now if the government seized them, it would be.
But yes there is a problem with cities like New York, but that's a local problem and will continue to be so if people keep voting the same people in.