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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.16 COM | FEB. 25 - MARCH 3, 2022
partnering with the Urban Resource Institute (URI)
to develop the residential building that will be contextual
to the neighborhood.
Currently, the project is halted as AAFE is participating
in conversations with community and business
leaders, city officials and stakeholders in order
to address concerns and to provide more education
and insight into the benefits of the project for Flushing,
Jennifer Sun, co-executive director of AAFE,
said in a recent interview with QNS.
Members of Flushing United say they want to
make sure the project is right for Flushing with proper
communication and the community’s input, as the
community is still struggling financially amid the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many of our working-class families have been
struggling while worrying about being priced out of
our own neighborhood. What we need is more affordable
housing for the average workers who live and
work in this community they call home,” said Kenny
Chen, of the Chinese American Restaurant Service
Association.
Nabaraj KC, president of the College Point Civic
Taxpayers Association, said he was impressed to see
that 55,000 people have signed the petition.
“We join the tens of thousands of community
members who want to bring permanent affordable
housing to our neighborhood,” KC said.
Henry Hailing Chen, of the Asian Workers Coalition,
said “the last thing Flushing needs is transitional
housing, with residents who don’t have any ties to
the community.”
While the project is paused, Meng is urging Mayor
Eric Adams to engage with local community leaders
and organizations to allow businesses, residents
and any interested individuals to provide input in the
proposal.
Meng is also requesting the mayor to keep
the project halted until all stakeholders have an
opportunity to weigh the potential impacts of the
project.
“Addressing today’s housing crisis is crucial for
this city, and I believe that we must construct more
affordable housing units and offer services that help
New Yorkers succeed,” Meng said in a letter to Adams.
“Pursuing these noble goals, however, must be
done in an inclusive and holistic manner to ensure
all parties can bring their views to the table.”
Meng added, “Considering the media news that
the transitional housing project has created, especially
with community concerns, I have reservations
that the process of your predecessor lacked a rigorous
outreach strategy and did not allow the community
to provide input. While this oversight was unfortunate,
it is not too late to be fixed.”
“The one thing we can all agree on is that we
need more real affordable housing and that we have
a housing crisis,” Kim said in a statement. “I have
been working around the clock with the governor
and mayor’s office to immediately remove mentally
unstable individuals from our communities.”
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Flushing community leaders and business organizations
joined Flushing United on Sunday, Feb. 20,
to advocate for permanent affordable housing to be
built at 39-03 College Point Blvd., after voicing concerns
about a proposal to transform the site into a
transitional housing facility.
Representatives from Congresswoman Grace
Meng, Senator John Liu, Assemblyman Ron Kim and
Sandra Ung’s office were in attendance at the rally.
“We appreciate all the support we are receiving
from the Flushing community and especially these
important advocates who know how much we need
more affordable housing in our community,” said
Jerry Lo, acting president of Flushing United, a newly
formed organization of community and business
leaders from the neighborhood who are concerned
about the development.
The rally comes after nearly 55,000 Flushing residents
and patrons signed a petition opposing a plan
by Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) and the Department
of Housing, Preservation and Development
(HPD) to construct a 90-unit transitional housing facility
for families with children in need.
This is a first-of-a-kind project for AAFE, which is
Flushing community leaders and business owners
rally for more affordable housing in the community at a
proposed development site for a transitional housing
facility at 39-03 College Point Blvd. on Sunday, Feb.
20. Photo courtesy of Flushing United
Flushing community organizations
rally for more affordable housing
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