FAC Development at 575 Fifth Avenue
Tonight’s coommunity meeting at Grand Prospect Hall is going to put the South Slope’s liberal leanings to the test. Up for discussion will be a proposed supported housing facility that the Fifth Avenue Committee wants to build on a municipal parking lot at 575 Fifth Avenue. Here’s the rub: When FAC initially proposed the project…
Tonight’s coommunity meeting at Grand Prospect Hall is going to put the South Slope’s liberal leanings to the test. Up for discussion will be a proposed supported housing facility that the Fifth Avenue Committee wants to build on a municipal parking lot at 575 Fifth Avenue. Here’s the rub: When FAC initially proposed the project a year and a half ago, the group left community members with the impression that it would be open to restricting the occupants to seniors and/or youths who were transitioning out of foster care. Now that the project is getting ready to move forward, the word is that 60% of the 49 studios in the development will be reserved for homeless and mentally disabled tenants. Some nearby residents (especially those with children) are concerned about the high numbers of drug addicts and sex offernders that are in this group. (Tempers are already flaring on the Brooklynian boards.) It’s easy to be in favor of providing facilities for this segment of society until one is planned for your own backyard. The meeting is tonight at 7 pm at Grand Prospect Hall, 263 Prospect Avenue. GMAP
Fifth Avenue Affordable Housing Fight Intensifies [Gowanus Lounge]
why are there no names on the 16th street action website? who are these people?
Please go to http://www.16thstreetaction.com for more info on how the residents of the immediate area feel about the project.
So what’s the result of the vote on this issue??? Anyone has any update? We are considering to move to the neighborhood, and this supported housing building might change our decision to invest here.
UPDATE 02/16/07
Seems that the South Park Slope Community Group / Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Hts. meeting on Tuesday may have assuaged many of the concerns and controversy over Fifth Avenue Committee’s (FAC) and HPD’s plans for 575 5th Ave.
Here’s my POV on the latest hearing…
CB7’s public forum started off at approx. 6:30 pm with another “fine tuned” presentation by HPD, FAC and FAC’s architect. FAC’s executive director, Michelle de La Uz, fielded questions from CB7 members first, ranging from parking issues, FAC’s business practices and section of this “type of plan,” screening of the applicants, community input, tenant selection for the 2000 sq. ft. retail space and again asked for clarification for some of the misconceptions that are floating out in the community (ex-offenders, substance abuse, level of mental disabilities, security, etc.).
The biggest topic, and learning experience for FAC, CB7 and the community is earlier community input was definitely needed for this project…and something that MUST be done in future affordable housing projects within CB7. With 4th Ave. upzoned with a 20% affordable housing component, John Burns, CB7 Land Use Chair, was quick to point out that this wasn’t the last time we’d see FAC coming before the Board.
Then the forum was opened to the public. St. Michael-Emmanuel’s church was full and over 40 folks had signed up to speak, including a rep from CM Gonzalez’s office and CM DeBlasio. The meeting went on beyond 9:00 pm…
What became very clear (and interesting) was that FAC had learned a few things with their first two meetings (mini-meeting with several CB7 members 2 weeks ago and the SPSCG/CCGH meeting Tuesday): stack the deck with positive examples of how “supportive housing” works. The majority of the initial speakers were either FAC advocates, associates of FAC (through other not for profit agencies) and even a tenant of their Warren St. facility. A neighbor to the Warren St. facility gave a short and sweet thumbs up to FAC’s programs and asked the CB to welcome this project into the community.
What we did not see where folks speaking out against the project. While the CB expressed concerns that needed to be addressed, the “public” seemed to have been satisfied with FAC’s answers to their questions from SPSCG/CCGH meeting on Tuesday. We did not see many of the same folks from Tuesday. Very telling, in my opinion. In fact, of the 40 folks signed up to speak, on 2 spoke in opposition, specifically focusing on parking.
The full Board is to vote on Wed. 02/21/07, but I have the feeling the project will move forward…stated in my humble opinion 🙂
The hope/want, from FAC’s perspective, is the majority of the units (both the 60% assisted mentally handicapped and the 40% low income) will be pooled from the South Slope/Greenwood Hts./Sunset Park area. They mentioned the preference that would be given to displaced residents of the area that are in the shelter system, no matter their current housing location.
Not saying good or bad here, just relaying some of what I heard last night.
PS. there has been a concerted effort to push Markowitz into postponing the 2/20 hearing back…let’s see what happens.
I agree that these people need housing, but they aren’t from this neighborhood – they will be brought in from other areas. That to me doesn’t seem right.
The following is excerpted from a letter from a community resident and member of the south slope/sunset park CB7 who is writing the Borough president Marty Markowitz about this proposed project, and made this letter public this morning via mass e-mail:
“It appears this project went forward and the ULURP was filed in direct contravention to CB 7’s resolutions , of October 2005,that the Fifth Avenue Committee work with the community to develop a plan for this site. The South Slope & Concerned Citizens of GreenWood Heights held a community meeting last night and while the community did express some opposition to FAC’s plans, the people were somewhat more upset with your scheduling the public hearing before CB 7 had an opportunity to debate this issue. CB 7’s public hearing is set for Thursday 2/15 and the full Board meeting will take place on Wednesday 2/21/07 a day after your hearing. Also your public hearing will result in having members of this community attending 4 meeting in 7 days over a period of time when many people are away as the schools are closed for mid- winter break.”
Hmmm…This is yet another reason to put the brakes on this project before anything else gets “approved” under the radar. The way this is going down is complete BS, and unfair; just an obvious disregard for owners/residents in this neighborhood.
How’s everyone feel about it now?
Great meeting last night. Over 50+ residents and community activists (confirming head count today).
While the meeting started off with the fund raising efforts to lower the $80K bill for fighting the 15th St. Katan Tower ant the BSA and updates on development sites in the area, the FAC presentation became the major focus of the evening.
FAC did an excellent job attempting to dispel some of the myths of sustainable housing, the incorporation of the affordable housing component and the screening process for applicants who wish to live in the new 49 unit studio apt. building.
Facts (hope I get all of this 100% correct):
1. 60/40 split: 60% of mentally handicapped (under treatment) from the City’s shelter system and 40% for local single applicants making less that $29K (whom may also be under some sort of State or City program).
2. Screening process for ALL applicants including background check (mental, criminal, credit, etc.) and paneled screening process (with potential community input). “House rules” to ensure the applicants not only follow the rules of the building (obvious ones here about single occupancy only, no drug use, paying rent on time, etc.), but also to make sure applicants become part of “the community” rather just transplants to it.
3. FAC has a great track record creating more than 600 affordable housing units and currently manages 400 units.
Community concerns ranged from the screening process (concern of ex-cons, sex offenders, ex-drug abusers…all potential applicants), the fact FAC hat not approached the community until recently for input into the process, a concern about the loss of parking in a commercial district and MOSTLY the questioning of the “fast tracking” of the ULURP process (the City selling FFAC the parking lot for a buck and its change of use). Seems that while the mandatory public hearing by CB7 is scheduled this Thursday ( 02/15/07 6:30 pm @ St. Michael’s-Emmanuel Church on Prospect Ave. btwn 5th/6th Aves), BP Markowitz is holding his “stop #2” public hearing BEFORE the Community Board votes on the FAC/HPD application next Wednesday 2/21/07.
It was suggested that folks should reach out individually to the BP’s office and ask for an extension. The CB will be formally requesting that as well.
The community wants more time to ask questions, review the facts and hopefully have some additional input into the project than they have had to date…which other than several meetings with CB7, they have had none.
The biggest concern expressed, other than the lack of community input, was that most folks felt FAC/HPD did not think “outside of the box” and adequately address the needs for senior housing and youths aging out of the foster care system, points brought up in the original discussions in October 2005.
While preference will be given to seniors and these young adults, it’s still part of the standard 60/40 split.
Thursday’s CB7 public hearing ought to be interesting. Kudos to FAC and HPD for coming before the community, giving a comprehensive presentation and fielding all questions…rational or not.
Personally I am not sure which way to go on this one and will reserve my final “personal thoughts” till after the CB7 Public Hearing.
the armory is not a supportive housing development. it’s a shelter.