Jularc
Oct 24, 2007, 5:45 PM
Fed Says Make Money by Selling Housing Projects
October 24, 2007
Yesterday, the New School held a forum to discuss how New York City will save its public housing. The New York City Housing Authority, which is the city's primary sources of affordable housing to 400,000 residents, has an annual shortfall of $225 million.
The Daily News reports that Sean Moss, the Regional Director for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the NY/NJ region, offered a suggestion that "prompted shocked murmurs." His idea: Sell some of the Housing Authority's buildings in expensive neighborhoods. "It may displace some people, and that is a concern...That is not necessarily a bad thing if you can create more housing with that. Instead of having 300 units [in a project], maybe there is a way to increase that if they are able to...sell those assets so that you can create more housing." There are some NYCHA developments in neighborhoods full of new, luxury development, but would that mean lower-income families would be shifted more remote places?
Some others on the panel were more cautious. Teamsters Local 237 president Gregory Floyd said, "We have something that's working. We would like this to be improved." And City Council member Rosie Mendez suggested the city help out by not charging the NYCHA for "police services, water, trash pickup and senior programs."
Last year, NYCHA chairman Tino Hernandez proposed a seven-point "Plan to Preserver Public Housing," which included a limited rent increase and use of Section 8 funding to support operations in 8,400 units.
2003-2007 Gothamist LLC. (http://gothamist.com/2007/10/24/fed_says_make_m.php)
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Feds eye New York building sale at housing projects
BY ADAM LISBERG
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Wednesday, October 24th 2007
New Yorks top federal housing official said on Tuesday the city's cash-strapped Housing Authority should consider selling buildings in expensive neighborhoods to create more apartments elsewhere.
"It may displace some people, and that is a concern," Sean Moss, the regional administrator for the federal Housing and Urban Development Department, said at a forum on the Housing Authority's future.
"That is not necessarily a bad thing if you can create more housing with that," Moss said. "Instead of having 300 units [in a project], maybe there is a way to increase that if they are able to ... sell those assets so that you can create more housing."
Moss' frank comments prompted shocked murmurs among the dozens of housing advocates at the forum, organized by the New School's Center for New York City Affairs.
Gregory Floyd, president of Teamsters Local 237, which represents many Housing Authority workers, worried developers are already eying authority projects in valuable neighborhoods, which would curtail affordable housing options there.
"We have something that's working," Floyd said. "We would like this to be improved."
Other housing authorities have torn down dilapidated high-rises and replaced them with new low-rise buildings elsewhere, but New York's projects have been well managed in the past and provided solid middle-class housing for decades.
The Housing Authority and the city Housing Preservation and Development Department have sold parking lots at some Manhattan projects so developers can put up new apartments. Housing Authority General Manager Douglas Apple said the agency may also build new stores on its sites.
Federal cutbacks have left the authority with a $200 million annual shortfall, which has hurt services and maintenance for its 400,000 residents.
City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez (D-Manhattan) said the city should consider putting millions into the Housing Authority - or at least stop billing the agency for police services, water, trash pickup and senior programs.
"We in city government need to pick up some of the slack and pay for that," Mendez said.
© Copyright 2007 NYDailyNews.com. (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/10/24/2007-10-24_feds_eye_new_york_building_sale_at_housi-1.html)
October 24, 2007
Yesterday, the New School held a forum to discuss how New York City will save its public housing. The New York City Housing Authority, which is the city's primary sources of affordable housing to 400,000 residents, has an annual shortfall of $225 million.
The Daily News reports that Sean Moss, the Regional Director for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the NY/NJ region, offered a suggestion that "prompted shocked murmurs." His idea: Sell some of the Housing Authority's buildings in expensive neighborhoods. "It may displace some people, and that is a concern...That is not necessarily a bad thing if you can create more housing with that. Instead of having 300 units [in a project], maybe there is a way to increase that if they are able to...sell those assets so that you can create more housing." There are some NYCHA developments in neighborhoods full of new, luxury development, but would that mean lower-income families would be shifted more remote places?
Some others on the panel were more cautious. Teamsters Local 237 president Gregory Floyd said, "We have something that's working. We would like this to be improved." And City Council member Rosie Mendez suggested the city help out by not charging the NYCHA for "police services, water, trash pickup and senior programs."
Last year, NYCHA chairman Tino Hernandez proposed a seven-point "Plan to Preserver Public Housing," which included a limited rent increase and use of Section 8 funding to support operations in 8,400 units.
2003-2007 Gothamist LLC. (http://gothamist.com/2007/10/24/fed_says_make_m.php)
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Feds eye New York building sale at housing projects
BY ADAM LISBERG
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Wednesday, October 24th 2007
New Yorks top federal housing official said on Tuesday the city's cash-strapped Housing Authority should consider selling buildings in expensive neighborhoods to create more apartments elsewhere.
"It may displace some people, and that is a concern," Sean Moss, the regional administrator for the federal Housing and Urban Development Department, said at a forum on the Housing Authority's future.
"That is not necessarily a bad thing if you can create more housing with that," Moss said. "Instead of having 300 units [in a project], maybe there is a way to increase that if they are able to ... sell those assets so that you can create more housing."
Moss' frank comments prompted shocked murmurs among the dozens of housing advocates at the forum, organized by the New School's Center for New York City Affairs.
Gregory Floyd, president of Teamsters Local 237, which represents many Housing Authority workers, worried developers are already eying authority projects in valuable neighborhoods, which would curtail affordable housing options there.
"We have something that's working," Floyd said. "We would like this to be improved."
Other housing authorities have torn down dilapidated high-rises and replaced them with new low-rise buildings elsewhere, but New York's projects have been well managed in the past and provided solid middle-class housing for decades.
The Housing Authority and the city Housing Preservation and Development Department have sold parking lots at some Manhattan projects so developers can put up new apartments. Housing Authority General Manager Douglas Apple said the agency may also build new stores on its sites.
Federal cutbacks have left the authority with a $200 million annual shortfall, which has hurt services and maintenance for its 400,000 residents.
City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez (D-Manhattan) said the city should consider putting millions into the Housing Authority - or at least stop billing the agency for police services, water, trash pickup and senior programs.
"We in city government need to pick up some of the slack and pay for that," Mendez said.
© Copyright 2007 NYDailyNews.com. (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/10/24/2007-10-24_feds_eye_new_york_building_sale_at_housi-1.html)