The affordable housing complex that broke ground last May on West 123rd Street appears to be rising now at a steady pace. This new 8-story complex is being built on a former parking lot of the low-income housing facing the ACP/7th Avenue side of the block and there had been protest from some of the brownstone owners in the area because of the scale of the building. Community Board 10 voted on the side of the new development and construction is expected to be finished by early 2014.
Of course community board 10 voted in favor of it -- anything to keep Harlem down!
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you think that people who need affordable housing are keeping Harlem "down"? Many people who have lived in Harlem for ages are trying to make ends meet and have decent, affordable living situations. I myself live in affordable housing based on income, and work a full-time job, pay my student loans off, and do everything I can to participate in my community. Why don't people have that right?
DeleteJust walk 124th between 7th and 8th Ave, you will see what affordable housing looks like, that is called zero of pride of ownership. To see pride of ownership, walk the fabulous brownstone blocks of Harlem that are now lovingly restored. That is why this new development is correctly described as keeping Harlem down.
DeleteThis reminds me of that old circus trick of getting many clowns into a tiny car. Only in this case, the clowns are affordable housing units and the car is Harlem. How many more can they squeeze in?!?
ReplyDeleteThey need to squeeze in as many as possible. One has to ask the question; exactly how is 'affordable' defined in the term affordable housing? The city as a whole needs affordable housing, there is room for us all.
DeleteHarlem has way too much subsidized housing, Harlem and New York City need people that can carry their own freight and contribute to the tax base.
DeleteAffordable housing allows teachers, police officers, firefighters and the like to live in the city and the neighborhood in which they serve. We're not talking about section 8 housing here. We're talking about people who have stable jobs being able to live in decent housing. You don't seem very informed.
DeleteFor your information, I understand it is to house those currently on West 124th street, who are definitely a negative on Harlem looking at the trashed out back yards that most market rate New Yorkers can only dream of.
DeleteAffordable housing is just another term for subsidized housing and it does not improve a neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI remember the 123rd street block association presented community board 10 with a comprehensive and well prepared case showing that the residents did not want this marring their historic brownstone block, but it went ahead regardless. I think it important to get involved with CB10 to make sure they do not allow buildings to ruin these historic blocks.
ReplyDeleteIt''s section 8 housing. That is far worse than affordable housing - it's a housing project.
ReplyDeleteaccording to ADC, it's affordable, not section 8
ReplyDeleteEnnis Francis is section 8, which is affordable, based on its structure.
ReplyDeleteI hope the people in that building are good neighbors - I understand they will be moving the people from Ennis Francis on 124th street to this new building, so a newer larger building can be constructed on 124.
affordable housing = subsidized.
ReplyDeleteSubsidized by someone else - either the landlord, the neighbors or the taxpayers.
That is it.
The special interests have hijacked almost all private project to force an subsidized compenant (if not all). The reality is that this makes housing more expensive for everyone else.
Agree that new York should be more affordable - but it does not work the way the pollticians do it. The government needs to cut the red tape, delays, mafia kick backs, tickets, etc and allow housing to be built quickly and easily to meet the demand. This is why you have more affordable private housing in virtually the rest of the United States.
It works there and will work here in NYC.
I applied to be on the Community Board but was rejected. Not sure why. Actually didn't even get a call thanking me for applying and coming in to be interviewed. I found out at the CB meeting when all the accepted applicants were presented. Incredibly disrespectful if you ask me. I agree with many here that there are many "social programs" in Harlem, but little real community support exists. Methadone clinics, affordable housing, etc. I see the churches blocking lanes of traffic, but I don't see them sponsoring any community events? When I complain about crime and harrassing behavior the typical response is "Where did you think you were moving to?" as if crime is acceptable because it is Harlem. I'm amazed that when the city tries to reduce traffic deaths on ACP by minor improvements to traffic patterns CB10 members fight it! People please, we can retain Harlem's Black history in the community without sustaining the crime and violence.
ReplyDeleteDan - apply again!!
ReplyDeleteKeep at it.
and document your experiences in writing and here on HB.
We welcome to hear it.
Agreed, keep it up Dan
Delete"affordable housing is just another term for subsidized housing and does not improve a neighborhood.". collarcity and others have it right. Subsidized housing is unfair to people who pay market rates and it contributes to the deterioration of neighborhoods. Look at the areas where there are projects - they are not exactly the paragons of civility. CB 10 is a joke.
ReplyDeleteDan, don't limit your focus to the community board. It is only one of many community organizations with a voice in Harlem. Try and get involved with a non-governmental group, or your local precinct community group for example. I think you will always find others who share your view in an organization. You do not always have to volunteer for the most visible organization, if you really care. Goood luck!
ReplyDeleteI know that there are a few of us here who would be very interested in possibly shifting the balance of CB10. I know it is difficult but let's all, if interested, see if we can get together and put together a plan of attack.
ReplyDeleteDan can you contact me offline? Ulysses do you mind if I post contact info here?
Posting personal information on a public site might not be the best course of action. Working with local block associations and groups might be the better thing to do in order to show a strong front at community boards. Smaller block associations have had a harder time in the past but The North Star Neighborhood Association might be a good way for folks to meet and exchange information since they represent most of South Harlem: www.thenorthstarharlem.com
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to try and set up a meet with the like minded folks here. Would post email only :) Not that silly to post much more. Thanks for that Ulysses.
ReplyDeleteHarlemBBC, what do you mean by "possibly shifting the balance of CB10"? I don't think you got my point, which was that there are many levels of community involvement, besides the community board, that one can pursue to make a difference. Please don't get me wrong. I am not anti-CB10. I think that like other community boards, most of CB10's decisions are compromises reflective of the various interest groups in our community.
ReplyDeleteMy point to Dan was that he should not be discouraged, if after moving to a community, he cannot start his community service at the top level. Life rarely works that way.