The Repurposing of the Armory at Bedford and UNION

The far left has announced the next event

Are any local politicians actually for the armory these days? Or is this just all for show and a reason for folks to continue to loudly voice displeasure in a public setting?

The deal largely hinges on Laurie Cumbo coming back onboard. She is unlikely to do so before the primary, unless DeBlasio can find a lot $ that would allow her to convincingly state she "held out until her constituents got the affordable housing they deserve". In the interim, these demonstrations are a good way for the far left to meet each other and affirm their moral superiority. It is a lonely, evil world

So much for a protest vote in this election.

DeBlasio has the words in the wrong order: he means to say the benefits of luxury housing equals the benefits of affordable development? Affordable housing to him is a luxury development.

He may be viewing it in terms of its ability to generate taxes.

It is an old tactic: Host an event, invite a guest and then call them a coward for not showing.

Eric Adams told me by email that they've submitted a new/alternative proposal for the Armory and that Laurie Cumbo can share the details if we contact her. I sent her an email. May try calling if I don't hear back. Perhaps this will be unveiled at the Aug 2 event.

If I were a politician, I wouldn't bother to show on August 2nd. ....the audience will only be composed of people with no understanding of economics and an inability to understand that we can't simply subsidize this project with outside money.

Fill us in @Rick656

Bravo Mr. Errol Louis! http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/build-affordable-housing-middle-class-article-1.3391967

The mayor supports the present plan, and seems to sopport Ms Cumbo. I continue to believe the plan is not dead unless Ms Cumbo loses in Sept. http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2017/08/10/de-blasio-team-supports-city-council-incumbent-in-race-defined-by-his-development-agenda-113880

yesbrooklyn said:

Bravo Mr. Errol Louis! http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/build-affordable-housing-middle-class-article-1.3391967

That is a great article by Errol. Middle class folks need help too in this overpriced city, which is far too often overlooked.

yesbrooklyn said:

Fill us in @Rick656

I haven't heard a word from her about he new plan, but she just had a baby very recently so responding to random emails probably isn't high on her priority list.

whynot_31 said:

The mayor supports the present plan, and seems to sopport Ms Cumbo. I continue to believe the plan is not dead unless Ms Cumbo loses in Sept. http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2017/08/10/de-blasio-team-supports-city-council-incumbent-in-race-defined-by-his-development-agenda-113880

And that's why I'll be voting for her. I'm not a huge fan, but if we leave this to the other candidates I'm fairly certain this site will either continue to gather dust or be turned into yet another homeless shelter, which will turn into the next thing to protest, while of course proposing wholly unrealistic solutions that don't have any chance of happening. Much like the GOP has demonstrated nationally, it's easy to be against things. It's far more difficult to form any kind of consensus in favor of something, especially when you refuse to acknowledge reality. I feel like I'm surrounded by the parties of no on every level of government these days.

It has taken him a while, but Deblasio seems to have given up his fantasies that he can get enough money from D.C. and Albany to fund such things. ....which should help.

I agree that voting for Cumbo is the only hope of getting this done. Although she won't admit publicly until after the election (if she wins) that she supports the project, I received a flyer on my door yesterday saying the Union supports Cumbo, which makes me think they might know something about her support for the project that we don't.

Amen @mcpoet and @Rick656

https://www.change.org/p/councilwoman-laurie-cumbo-stop-the-sale-of-bedford-union-armory-for-1-df46ecce-08cc-4a14-b0c1-f9236e9102d0/nftexp/ex1/control/115250920?recruiter=115250920&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=125466&utm_content=ex1:control Very misleading description of what would be happening.

BP Adams and First Baptist Church will try to move the project along this week. ...to do so now, they must think that Cumbo has a solid enough lead over Ede Fox that any backlash won't affect her. http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/8/25/bp-adams-recommendation-controversial-bedford-union-armory-this-week

BP Adams is opposed to the current plan, because it would involve condos. http://www.kingscountypolitics.com/adams-rejects-condos-part-bedford-union-armory-proposal/. It is unclear to me where he expects the money to subsidize the rec center will come from.

Crain's speculates "bonds" http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170906/REAL_ESTATE/170909942

The one comment on this article says it all

Agreeing with Yesbrooklyn It's all about the optics and not what makes financial sense...wasteful and so short sided to stop the project from going forward.

https://www.villagevoice.com/2017/09/06/crown-heights-council-race-hinges-on-armory-gentrification-battle/

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/9/7/bedford-union-armory-fight-spills-over-35th-city-council-debate-brooklyn

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170913/REAL_ESTATE/170919949

Good news for the armory. Will be interesting to see if the developers are willing to go forward with a deal that doesn't include market rate condos. Seems like an exceedingly logical way to subsidize the rec center and low income housing, but logic doesn't always prevail.

So glad that Laurie Cumbo won. I think that what will end up happening is that a few of the market-priced condos will become affordable condo homeownership opportunities (there are already plans for a few of those). And there will still be a number of market-priced condos to pay for the rec center.

Let's see if she is now able to extort money from DeBlasio in exchange for her support. Note the money may flow to things in addition to the armory. Game on. http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2017/09/14/de-blasio-wont-rule-out-more-money-to-win-support-for-bedford-armory-redevelopment-114506