The Repurposing of the Armory at Bedford and UNION
Comments
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Our local DNA reporter, Rachel, might attend....but I'm not spending my time there unless someone pays me.
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I want to follow the drama. Also as a community member I have a horse in this race!
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Also why is it a "requirement" that BFC has experience building housing for the homeless in order to do this project? That's the beef really?If it's mandated that there will be affordable housing, there will be affordable housing. Experience doing so has nothing to do with the end product. There's no technique for making affordable units vs regular ones. -
The homeless are regularly "championed" by opponents of projects. By stating the housing is not being built for them, one grabs the moral high ground....while being so out of touch with economics, that you do not having to worry about the consequences of having your goal actually being achieved.yawn
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Any reports from the meeting?
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A close friendship is being formed between Crown Heights' largest and most "activist" church (First Baptist) and The Black Institute.
This prevents them from being dismissed as outside agitators by EDC and other government entities.
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Yikes.
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whynot_31 said:And, here is what is known as "the money shot". It allows EDC to state that the politicians bless the project, much like parents bless the wedding of their daughter.
One will note that some of the same politicians that previously endorsed the project, are now promoting events held by the project's detractor.
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The meeting was bananas. Richard Hurley sure does like stirring the pot. Some factions seemed to preach 'don't kill the deal' while others touted a rec center and just affordable housing. It seems these some people don't know that mixed incomes in one area is better for everyone over time. It's science actually. Then again some people don't believe in evolution.On a side note Laurie Cumbo actually seemed to be promoting aspects of the deal but hesitant to throw all her weight in. She touted her work getting Medgar Evans to be a anchor tenant, etc. The crowd, as usual, was very vocal, letting the various (AND MANY) speakers know when they approved - which is probably why she didn't want to be 100% in. Everyone had a bone to pick - and different ones making the whole thing seem distant.Really sad because as some said at the meeting nothing is more important for the youth of the neighborhood than having a huge rec center like this. As a very close neighbor to the space I really really hope the rec center aspect (and housing at various levels) makes it through this seemingly endless struggle.They did say that the next 6 months were crucial in "letting your voice be heard." I'd love to have my voice be heard to these people - but really how in a way that matters?
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Ms. Cumbo is in a tough spot. Bertha Lewis is regularly making appearances in the area, and demonstrating that power does not have to emanate from public office.
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why do they need to add housing to this project? If it was just a rec center, it would probably be better imo.
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The housing will be used to subsidize the rec center.
A stand alone rec center would require a subsidy, and no entity like NYC Parks Department has expressed an interest. -
Also -- you may have heard that there was a citywide housing crisis...
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Over the next few months, the project is/was supposed to go thru ULURP to obtain permission to sell the land the condos will be on (a slice along President St.)
It isn't clear to me this process will be pursued now that some of sponsors have dropped out.
Previously, I was confident the politicians would be willing to stack the committee in favor of a smooth passage. Now, they might not be willing to endure the costs of doing so. -
If they changed condos into Mitchell-Lama-style co-ops...they might have a better show. But that would likely require way more massing to make as profitable as some fancy duplex townhouses with little yards and roof decks.
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If EDC wants to pursue the present plan, its best move is to stall: The condos (and, um, their residents) will be less out of place in the area in the future than they are now.
On the other hand, Bertha's power will weaken over time. She needs to demand that the developer favored by The First Baptist Church of Crown Heights is appointed as soon as possible. -
The housing needs to be at varying levels to pay for itself. As I mentioned in a previous comment - this is just good economics and urban planning.
The problem seems (well one of the problems) seems to be that 'affordable' isn't affordable. That the cutoff to be eligible for X apt is something like 100k for a family of 4 (to make math simple). This eligibility would entitle you to rent an apt at 4000/month. If you adhered to the 1/4 if your monthly income for rent (which like no one does in ny anyway) this would be irresponsible. Also the 100k number is before taxes so the rent numbers are very outta whack. So until this equation (and sorry for I butchered the exact numbers/ratios here correct me please cuz I'm still fuzzy on details) is rejiggered - the affordable housing crisis will still be a crisis no matter how many affordable units are built.
What I've heard of people doing is fudging the applications to get a family of 3 to a family of 4, etc. -
The housing that was planned is designed to not only pay for itself, but also to subsidize the rec center.
Stand alone "affordable" rec centers require a greater subsidy than stand alone housing would.
...but this the armory will likely have to sit vacant a few more years while people reach that conclusion on their own. -
seems a certain sect of the community should start the "say no" campaign similar to the "know nothings" of yesteryear. when a new proposal or idea comes to the surface, the retort: "nope" and everyone puts on a song and dance meeting led by Richard Hurley gladhanding people and calling all but especially white anti-change/progress folks "his super stars."Then those with a rudimentary sense of economics could propose completely asinine measures in hopes that their "no way" retorts will actually result in something that's good for the community as opposed to leaving in the the dust.
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Because this site has only been seen as a "potential" asset, there is not a large political cost to delaying the project.
Every local politician is now laying the ground work for coming out against EDC attempts to revive this project.
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Local politician Jesse Hamilton writes:
Tenant & Housing Committee
100% Affordable
A joint letter from Senator Jesse Hamilton, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley and Assemblywoman Diana Richardson to the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) lays out concerns about the impending development of the Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights. First among the concerns is making the proposed development 100% affordable housing.
NYS Senator Jesse Hamilton said, “Public land means public accountability. Joining with colleagues, I want to make clear that development, especially development on public land, is accountable to the community. They must meet neighborhood needs like offering truly affordable housing and stronger STEM education offerings. That is the only path I see for this project to move forward.”
The elected officials express their priorities:
We must use every single public resource to provide affordable housing at all income levels. The Bedford Union Armory is a rare public site where the City has the opportunity to build 100% affordable housing, working with the not-for-profit development community. These income levels should include 50% of AMI and below and up to 130% of AMI, in order to contribute to solving the housing crisis and meet local needs. In order to accommodate this 100% affordable building, the EDC should use NYC affordable housing program subsidies at the proposed development sites.
Increase the Community Board 9 community preference from 50% to 80% of the affordable housing units – though we recognize pending litigation may have significant bearing on community preferences and the latitude for their imposition.
Decrease the percentage of one bedroom and studio apartments to no more than 40% of the total rental units developed on site, with the remaining units equally divided between two and three bedroom apartments
Incorporate the community’s architecture to better blend the housing units to fit into the larger community aesthetics.
Use a Community Area Median Income instead of a regional AMI for income qualifications for affordable units; related, ensure that obstacles do not hinder one’s ability to apply for affordable housing (e.g. using credit scores).
Require more education and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs for the facility operator in the community and education space so that a larger number of community residents can take advantage of the community, education and recreational space.
Placing on the record the advantages of union labor, particularly union apprenticeship programs and laudable safety records – we remain concerned as to whether union labor will be used in this project.
-20th Senate District Tenant & Housing Committee
Bedford Armory Update
Dear Community Members,
Thank you for attending our Tenant & Housing Committee Meeting on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at our office at 1669 Bedford Avenue. Please be advised that a Special Meeting/Bedford Armory Update will be scheduled for Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 6:00 PM. We hope to see you there!
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A pretty well written piece on how we got here:
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the saga continues. i'm tired of a loud, hateful though well-organized minority dominating the conversation about this.
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If they are unable to obtain a subsidy from an outside funding source, the armory and its garage will remain dormant.
Perhaps they will define this as "victory"? -
Can't the developer just seek a larger loan? Seeing that he's the only guy on the bill he stands to profit alot.
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The developer is BFC partners, which is constrained by EDC.
EDC is not going to sign off on any deal that it believes will need a bail out in the future.
Meanwhile, the local politicians will pursue local interests, and look like they fought the good fight. -
There's a meeting tmrw about this at Jesse Hamilton's office 6pm. Last one I went to with him he literally said that the reason Crown Heights was gentrifying so rapidly was because black landlords needed to exclusively rent to black people and this wasn't happening...1669 Bedford Ave. 6pm
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In the current economy, asking a landlord to forego their self interests in favor of "neighborhood preservation" is fanciful. If white landlords were openly being encouraged to do so to keep blacks out, the dynamics would be even more intense...
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