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COURIER L 14 IFE, JUNE 18-24, 2021
Locals: plan for NYCHA
funding under Gowanus
rezoning falls short
BY BEN VERDE
Repair plans for Gowanus
NYCHA buildings
as part of the neighborhood’s
controversial
rezoning do not go far
enough, according to
elected offi cials and tenant
leaders, who say they
won’t greenlight the project
unless they feel residents’
needs are met.
“Here we are past certifi
cation and the city
has not come forward
with a concrete and clear
plan about how it is going
to meet the needs of
our neighbors in Gowanus
Houses and Wyckoff
Elected offi cials and tenant leaders rally at the Gowanus
Houses. Photo by Ben Verde
Houses,” said Councilmember Brad
Lander during a rally at the Gowanus
Houses on June 15. “It is not appropriate
to ask any tenant to choose between
mold-free bathrooms, functioning elevators,
and safe electrical outlets.”
Lander and Councilmember Steve
Levin say City Hall has presented three
separate proposals for NYCHA fi xes:
$52 million to pay for bathroom repairs
at the Gowanus Houses, with no repairs
made at the Wyckoff Gardens; $40 million
to replace windows in Gowanus
Houses and Wyckoff Gardens, and repair
the heat at Wyckoff; or $40 million
to upgrade elevators at Gowanus
Houses and the electrical system at
Wyckoff Gardens.
Both blasted the proposals, claiming
that the only effective repair plan would
be to combine all three options into one
scheme totaling $132 million.
“In putting forward these three repair
packages, the city acknowledges a
minimum of $132 million in absolutely
essential maintenance,” said Lander.
“City Hall must commit to meet that
need.”
The pair also called for a more tenant
centric approach to determining
which repairs are made. “Steps must be
taken now to engage with the community
to hear from them what they need,”
said Levin.
According to NYCHA records, the
capital funding need for the two developments
exceeds $274 million, without
Hurricane Sandy-related repairs taken
into account — meaning the city’s proposed
repairs barely scratch the surface
of their own stated requirements.
The Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition
for Justice — one of the main interest
groups behind the rezoning — has
pushed repairs for NYCHA developments
front and center in the debate.
Members of the coalition, organized by
the Fifth Avenue Committee (the rezoning’s
main affordable housing developer),
say they’ve coordinated with tenant
leaders on the proposals, but those
in the trenches say they’re not buying
it.
“What they’re trying to do is do some
trickery,” said Edward Tyree, president
of the tenant association at Gowanus
Houses. “They’ll have you say you
want those things and then when you
get those things and other things break
down they’ll say ‘we gave you what you
wanted.’ Don’t give me what I want, give
me what I need.”
After an initial hybrid public hearing
held at the Old Stone House, the rezoning
proposal faced local community
board committees for the fi rst time this
week, with the land use committee of
Community Board 2 already voting to
disapprove the proposal.
The district manager of Community
Board 6 said the proposal would only
earn the board’s support if the NYCHA
needs were met — as laid out in the
board’s unoffi cial resolution to approve
the zoning change.
“I don’t think CB6 is in any way supportive
of this unless we get the necessary
funding,” said Mike Racioppo. “I
don’t think the community should have
to choose, these are basic facts of life.”
A spokesperson for City Hall defended
the city’s approach and claimed
they had participated in discussions
with tenant leaders.
“We are committed to addressing
needs at local NYCHA developments
as part of this rezoning process,” said
Laura Feyer. “We have been in active
conversation with NYCHA, tenant leaders,
and the Council Members to that
end and will continue the conversation
as the ULURP process advances.”
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