I recently received some information about additional affordable housing units in our neighborhood:
Four Streets HDFC c/o Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corp. is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 22 affordable housing rental apartments at 330 and 403 Chauncey Street, 667 McDonough Avenue, 794 Madison Street and 987 Putnam Avenue, in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. These buildings are being constructed through the 203K Affordable Housing Program of the City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development with financing provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Click here for more information about obtaining one of these apartments.
I find it hard to be content with this type of housing being added to the neighborhood. Why should we be adding additional low rent units to Bed-Stuy? Don’t we have enough of these? Even as the number of landlords accepting Section 8 vouchers decreases, there are more than enough housing projects throughout the neighborhood. Do you think that this type of housing is necessary? Shouldn’t people be placed in affordable home ownership programs?
My problem with these kinds of low income buildings, the lack of larger units available and the awkward income levels. I have a large family, so the abundance of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments available frustrate me. Couple that with falling just outside of the income levels and you have a handful of people who qualify for these places. This one at least has 3 bedroom apartments.
i find it extraordinarily insensitive of you to presume that there are ‘enough’ low-rent units, especially considering the number of people who have lived their whole lives in this neighborhood and are now being displaced because of skyrocketing rent and gentrification. not everyone is in a place in which they are able to consider home-ownership, even ‘affordable’ home-ownership programs (which i always question – affordable for whom?). the reality is that this neighborhood has traditionally been home to working-class and low-income families and individuals, and the presumption that there are now enough of these units just sounds like you’re trying to get rid of the rif-raf to make way for those of us with more privilege. community reinvestment is good. gentrification – the involuntary displacement of people – never, ever, EVER is.
I wonder why you never see developments like this in Brooklyn Heights?
Vero, displacement happens when people don’t own. I didn’t own when I lived in Manhattan, and as a result, I was displaced. To Brooklyn. People who don’t own have to move wherever they can afford to live. People who are buying homes have to buy wherever they can afford to buy. Demz the rules.
I’m aware that everyone is not in a place to consider homeownership, so programs like these should be fixed so that they can elevate–YES, ELEVATE–people into homeownership. If they love this neighborhood, and they plan to spend their whole damn lives here, then they should at least have some real estate to pass down to their children when they die.
@Morgan: Yeah, why don’t they think about placing a few of these (along with a homeless shelter) over in Brooklyn Heights?
“Don’t we have enough of these?”
Are you kidding? For these 22 apartments, they will probably receive 10,000 applicants who are completely eligible within the guidelines.
You are complaining about… 22… units? There are affordable apartments placed all over the borough, as conditions of development of new property. And yes, they have them in Brooklyn Heights, too.
Jamie, suppose 10,000 people apply. How many of those are people who are already in some sort of subsidized housing situation? My point is that you’re only moving them from one rental situation to another one (although I’ll admit, low-rise affordable rentals are preferable to high-rise housing projects any day). You make it sound as if there are 10,000 people living in market rate rentals applying for these affordable properties. If you can afford market rate around here, then you’re not eligible for these affordable units because either your income is too high or your family is too small or both.
It would be far more admirable to make these applicants homeowners. Why not make this a REAL lottery? Applicants who are selected should win their apartments, with nothing else to pay. No mortgage, no closing costs, no nothing. They win, they move in and all they will have to pay going forward are the monthly common charges to help maintain the building. So, yes, I’m complaining about 22 units, because I see it as 22 missed opportunities to put families into homes of their own.
I agree…enough already with the affordable (subsidized) housing.
I agree with Vero: there are never enough affordable homes available in New York, in this neighborhood or any other. In this economy, or in a healthy economy. And instead of suggesting that people should own so they won’t be displaced, lets support more affordable units so people can live where they want to live.
Programs like this are absolutley needed. And I think before you write them off you should speak to some people who were able to benefit from lotteries such as these. This may come as a shock to some of you but everyone does not want to own a home, in fact alot aren’t situated enough to handle the recurring expenses that comes with owning a home, “affordable” or not.
This has to be one of the more obnoxious postings I’ve seen on this blog I must say. First of all,yes these units are needed – especially in this area – since contrary to your belief not everyone in this city is rich or wants to own a home. Covering the basics in this city is hard enough or havent you noticed? Food, transportation, clothing…Secondly, since when is an $838 studio “affordable” or cheap? And just what do you think a “low income” renter looks like that they’re not welcome here? I grew up in a 4 bedroom apt in this area and the max rent was half of that. Its not your place to determine what is best for someone else. Buying a home is a big step and its not always the right one in all cases and in all steps of life. Owning is very expensive and has a lot of hidden costs. Maybe someone doesnt want to pay or doesnt have 10% down + closing costs + interest on mortgage + property taxes + maintenance when they can pay rent and call a super. And er um we’re in a housing crisis right about now so who wants to buy only to see the value of their house drop? And just for the record you dont own anything until its paid for – a lot of people are finding out the hard way that the bank actually owns their home. I know you want to do your share to “elevate” this area but what’s good for you isn’t for everyone else thanks. Good job HPD.
First of all, I don’t think everyone is this city is rich and I realize not everyone wants to own, but you and the rest of those people need to realize that when you don’t own, you are at the mercy of landlords (that is, the city and whoever else OWNS) when it comes to making decisions about where you’d like to live. Covering the basics in this city is hard–believe me, I know–but in case you haven’t noticed, this ain’t the only place or the only city you can live in. You have to pay the price to live in this city.
You might have grown up in a large apartment here for half the cost, but guess what? The value of real estate generally increases over time! Surprise! Housing crisis or no housing crisis. I can’t even purchase an apartment for the cost of the 4 bd/2 ba home that I grew up in in the city where I was raised, but unlike you, I’m not sour grapes about it.
If you’d read all of my comments closely you would see that I offered a solution (give them the apts!) so there wouldn’t be any 10% down and the property taxes for this new construction are subject to a tax abatement for several years. The property tax and the maintenance could be a manageable amount for these families.
I can accept that not everyone wants to own, OK fine, have it your way, but what I can’t accept is that people who don’t want to own (or at least those of you who speak for them) want them to have all of the benefits of owning with none of the hassle. It seems that there are too many people who believe that living on the dole is the only way of life for vast numbers of people. That is not to say that this type of support is not needed for some, but there has to be a way to empower people to do better.
And Wanett, I took a look at the spec sheet and you’re right, the “awkward income levels” struck me as another drawback here.
I thank God I was blessed with one of these lottery apartments at a time when I really needed it, but truthfully I would give anything to be helped with an affordable home ownership lottery. Is there any such program? Please send me the information first I will be happy to go that route. LadyintheShoe1@aol.com
I’ll post some information on this in the next day or so.