Friday, June 13, 2014

Trouble on the Affordable Housing Front?

The most prominent concern was found in this report:

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/real-estate/2014/06/8547130/glen-talks-housing-stuy-town-congressional-delegation

And this statement:

>>The lawmakers told Glen they believe it is important to create “'technical assistance teams' to work with New York City residents residing in affordable housing who may be notified of the need to move to another unit in order to update their current units,” Maloney's office said.<<

Technical assistance teams? Helping tenants who will need to move to another unit?

While folks are picturing tenants being moved permanently to a lesser apartment, even in another part of the city, I do think (and hope) that what the above means is that tenants who live in buildings/apartments that are in severe disrepair may need to move--temporarily--while their apartment or building is fixed up and made habitable. If the above doesn't mean that, then we are in for some serious trouble. (You say you want a revolution?)

The other concern, that I have at least, is that the affordable housing that may be built will be butt-ugly.

Like Sugar Hill in Harlem:


As NYC builds affordable housing, it has to make sure not to hire architects who fashion something resembling a cross between a prison facility and a government office in the old Soviet Union. Let's stop it with the egos of architects who desire to be different and noticed. Let's focus on crafting buildings that will give residents a sense of home and beauty. Can you imagine if you were forced by a "technical assistance team" to move from ST/PCV into the above?

More on Sugar Hill here.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

What's with this crackpot idea of re-housing people in affordable apartments to other apartments so that their apartment can be renovated and rented for more? Are we going to be a city where Granny is told that the 12th floor unit overlooking the East River that she has been living in for 50 years is not longer available to her and she has to be re-housed in a broom closet next to the boiler room? Sounds like something that would be done in a fascist society, not New York City. I know that America is the Bastion of Capitalism, but this going too far!

Anonymous said...

Why am I not surprised that this suggestion came from Carolyn Maloney? This woman is as dumb as dirt. Shouldn't she retire now? I don't think she is on top of her game - not that she ever really was.

Anonymous said...

That Sugar Hill monstrosity looks worse than any penitentiary could. It looks like a cross between a dirty wharf warehouse and a cell block. Nobody should live in or near such undiluted ugliness. Apart from its ugliness, it looks like it's about to topple over.
Do "architects" who design these monstrosities actually go to school and study and get degrees in architecture? My grandson creates much more artistic structures with his Lego Set and he is still in kindergarten.

Anonymous said...

STR if you haven't already seen it take the few minutes to watch former City Planner Amanda Burden talk about

How Tree parks are better than concrete plazas and her battles with architects and developers to save and create tree parks.

How the common good of new yorkers must be priority over commercialism

How city landscape has to take a long term approach of living here and not short-sighted profit approach

How open spaces must never be taken for granted.
How open spaces need vigilant championing so they are not violated, invaded, abandoned, ignored.

How open spaces have power that must be valued and sacred.

As I watched her Ted speech I thought of the massacre of the once grand Oval and the disgusting violated First Ave loop. And how PCVST used to be an eco and people friendly tree park and is now a neon lighted strip mall in the Oval and around the perimeter.

Here is a link to the video - its worth a watch.

And here is a link to the transcript.

http://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_burden_how_public_spaces_make_cities_work

https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_burden_how_public_spaces_make_cities_work/transcript

Anonymous said...

These politicians talk about people like we are pawns in a numbers game. Who are these people and from where did they come? The article is absurd.

Anonymous said...

Slap in the face for half the tenants who live on property. Seriously could not be any more NoT INCLUDED.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>STR if you haven't already seen it take the few minutes to watch former City Planner Amanda Burden talk about<<

Thanks. I'll check these out later.

Anonymous said...

Sugar Hill is in Harlem, not the Bronx. And though you (and I) might find it ugly, the apartment are supposedly pretty nice.

Anonymous said...

de Blasio obviously does not want to be known as a slumlord. So like STR and unlike the first few commenters, I assume Ms Maloney, Jerry Nadler, etc are referring to temporarily relocating tenants of affordable housing units (probably subsidized housing, also known as public housing) whose apartments need to be painted or whatever in order to keep them habitable.

It's easy enough to put in a call to Maloney's office on Monday morning if someone really wants to find out exactly what she's talking about in this completely out of context quote.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>Sugar Hill is in Harlem, not the Bronx.<<

Changed. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

10 17. Where is this even coming from? I think this is total false alarms. WHO IS BEING MOVED . linK?

Anonymous said...

wahhh? Apartments have been getting painted and fixed for 60 years here. Why do you need to move tenants out for it now? sounds fishy.

Anonymous said...

10:17 the onus is on the politician to speak with clarity and not put out public statements or draft laws without clarity.

That is how loopholes occur and slumlords er I mean landoverlords like CW commercialize open spaces and displace people from there homes.

With all the people on their staffs crafting the carefully chosen words, politicians are as vague or as clear as they design.

So no, a call to her office would not clarify. A Public statement by her could begin to add clarity.

No more loopholes for the Dan Garodnicks to abuse and tell residents the Oval can be "legally" commercialized so he can turn a blind eye.

Anonymous said...

12:27 pm: you hit the nail on the head. Politicians are absolute masters of double-speak and deliberate vagueness and vacuousness. Maybe because most of them are former lawyers. Maloney, I think, can't help being dumb because it comes naturally to her, but most of them, especially Garodnick, talk up a smokescreen of total bullshit to hide behind while they pursue their own greedy and ambitious agendas.

Anonymous said...

Who is planting the headlines that the Pols are going to bat for Stuyvesant Town? These guys didn't step up to the plate once let alone take a swing or make a hit or get to even a base run since 2010?

These Pols wait until the bottom of the 9th to step up to the plate i9n what is essentially a "second chance" game given the big failure of Tishman ..... then they place glory headlines of going to bat?

They better hit a home run which means for the better of the whole team, 1 community, all residents protected, restored, affordable.

ONE PCVST

Anonymous said...

I received my Roberts settlement check today. It's over $6,000 less than what Berdons claims site said I was owed (27% of my claim amount). I'm checking with Roberts lawyers and Berdon claims to see why. I cannot imagine fees, etc amount to that much. And I owe these owners nothing. Anyone else???

Anonymous said...

Some of these political folks are out of touch with people and reality.

Senator Schumer
“It’s always been a place for average folks to actually still be in Manhattan,” he said.

Don't know much about Schumer. From his words he seems to have a delusional perspective on people and their intellectual prowess.

One's income does not dictate one's brilliance. There are average people who are broke, average people who are middle class and average people who are wealthy. There are brilliant people of all income levels. Within any income bracket, any community, any apartment building, there are brilliant people, average people, and below average people.

Where does he get off saying and frankly believing his statement?

Does Schumer consider himself above average and in what capacity is he referring, intellect, income?

Does he think he is in some way above all those people standing behind him?

“It’s always been a place for average folks to actually still be in Manhattan,” he said.

Senator Schumer you aren't doing us any favors - you are doing you JOB.

Anonymous said...

You know what is amazing after reading this blog for the past few months is the extraordinary passion of the people in PCVST and the love we all have for this once beautiful property.

dcf said...

Mine was $6000- less than the site stated, as well.

Anonymous said...

I noticed Senator Schumer didn't gratuitously post photos of himself on his facebook and twitter. Instead he posted photos of the residents at the rally. Very nice Senator, nicely done. Well done.

Anonymous said...

I moved out of state. I have not received my check and I know I am owed. Where or who can I write to about this? Thanks all.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>“It’s always been a place for average folks to actually still be in Manhattan,” he said.<<

I'm pretty sure he didn't mean anything negative. Average, like in the "average Joe" or a "regular guy/gal."

Anonymous said...

10 40 pm. What crackpot idea. PLEASE BACK UP. TELL US WHAT YOU ARE SPEAKING OF. who are they moving and why

Anonymous said...

Still did not get my ROBERTS check. Anyone else?

Anonymous said...

Although I'm not Roberts tenant, I continusouly think we should support the Market rate tenants. Our neighbors were wonderful, quiet and clean. They left due to large rent increase. We have now on our floor several screaming students who seem to change out every 3 months, luggage and all. The hals are a mess and their parties get louder and louder.

Tommyboyardee said...

Once elected politicians have no use for Stuy Town residents. Easiest place to gather signatures come primary time, then not a peep. Warren, er I mean Mayor Billy Dee Blasio is trying to figure how he can keep the real estate donations and save face with the rest of the tribe.

Anonymous said...

8:16 is he trying to save face or trying t keep his "man of the people" political strategy to advance himself further? Do you think he cares what we think? Don't get me wrong ... I hope you are right and he is trying to save face with us, but I think it might be moreso that he is trying to keep his strategic political position to take it to the next level. If he doesn't fully deliver with his actions while in office then he cares not what we think of him. And I don't mean a half-assed compromise.I mean fully deliver on his campaign promises which were based on his political pr positioning. I agree with you about the gathering of signatures. Like an earlier commentator I also said "no" to signing Maloney's petition when they were here gathering. Not only will I not vote for some of these incumbents but I will vote against them! That's the best way to make my vote count!

Anonymous said...

To all suffering the loud noise and trashed halls by students - take it to the next level. Keep calling PCVST security AND report it to 311. When you report it to 311 give the address of the offenders, the apt number and their names. This goes on record and gets sent to the 13th precinct. They do follow up on these calls, and there is a record if there are repeat offenses with the offenders names.

Get everything on record with the City!

Anonymous said...

You betcha 8:16. Mayor can't upset all those landlords who gave MILLIONSSSS to put him in the desk there.

QUITE a pickle he is now in.

Anonymous said...

10:32 The link is in an earlier post. This is not a false alarm. This will be exploited by all RS landlords including PCVST landlords if it is not worded well. These politicians are not sloppy, they are crafty. They intentionally word their laws with loopholes for their friends and money-supporters. The businesses in the Oval and their "buildings" are not accessories but Garodnick allowed them to be built under a loophole called "accessory" so his buddies can build a mall.
The people are onto their trickery writing laws seemingly protecting people but really having huge gaping loopholes on purpose. This is not a false alarm. This is very real. Walk through the Oval and you will see.

Anonymous said...

@9:38 AM: I totally agree with you. I refused to sign the petition for Maloney and told the campaigners why. From now on, any politician who comes hawking around Stuyvesant Town is going to get a Bronx Cheer from me. I will either abstain from voting or vote against them because they have done fuck-all for us (apart from Kavanagh who has done some good with the new SCRIE legislation, though it doesn't apply to me) and they take for granted that we are going to vote for them. Well, we need more action that tub-thumping speeches when there is a photo-op. Ya hear that, Garodnick?

Anonymous said...

June 14, 2014 at 9:20 PM

This explanation comes via Giovanni in the comments thread on STR's post on "The Rally."

Giovanni said...

Nobody is talking about downsizing tenants in rent stabilized housing, this applies to NYCHA housing projects due to overcrowding and under-utilization, to and people getting Section 8 vouchers, including many renters in former Mitchell-Lama buildings that were converted.

This new city policy is due to the $35 million budget cut HPD got after the sequestration of the Federal budget. You remember, the sequestration that supposedly affected no one and only shut down a few national parks and monuments? That led to a few grandstanding politicians storming the barricades at the Lincoln Memorial, the same memorial that they themselves had voted remove funding for and to shut down.

Well the sequestration is now forcing seniors who get Section 8 vouchers out of their larger apartments and into smaller ones due to massive budget cuts. That's what happens when your government doesn't function properly, as Eric Cantor just found out when the Tea Party tossed him out of congrress last week. Thats the same Eric Cantor who supported the sequestration. At least now we dont have to pay Cantor's salary anymore.

June 14, 2014 at 11:36 PM

Anonymous said...

The Berdon website said that were to get just over $8,000. The settlement letter said that our actual amount was $75 and that that was being applied to MCI that we were never billed for. These people are crooks.

Anonymous said...

12:14 i'm with you. No one at that rally is getting my vote.

Anonymous said...

10:57 - ? You were calculated at $8,000 yet got zero?