Tuesday 18 October 2016

Crown Heights armory apartments should be 100% affordable, officials say

They argue that since the site is on public land, the entire project should be below-market units

The controversial Bedford-Union Armory redevelopment project in Crown Heights continues to worsen as continued lack of support and public outcry from community activists and officials keep the conversion from moving forward. Last month, Knicks star Carmelo Anthony was urged to drop his involvement in the project’s proposed sports center, now, local and state officials want developers to make all 300 of the building’s new apartments into affordable housing reports the Daily News.

Representative Yvette Clarke, state senator Jesse Hamilton, and assembly members Walter Mosley and Diana Richardson drafted a letter to the New York State Economic Development Corporation, explaining why they believe that the project—which is situated on city-owned land—should be all below market rate. "Public land is a public resource, and we only have one chance to get this project correct," they stated.

The push comes following outcries that although half of the building’s units were to be deemed affordable, those apartments would not be affordable to the residents in place and would only help to accelerate gentrification in an already changing neighborhood.

Officials also would like to see the number of apartments with preference to neighborhood residents increased from 50 to 80 percent. And for their final demand (for now), they argue that no more than 40 percent of the 300 apartments should be studios and one-bedrooms.



from
http://ny.curbed.com/2016/10/18/13321596/crown-heights-armory-development-affordable

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