2 NOVEMBER 22, 2018 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Critics pan, others back supportive housing in Glendale
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A nonprofit’s plans to build a
six-story supportive housing
building in Glendale drew
sharp criticism and concerns from
Community Board 5 members during
the advisory body’s Nov. 14 meeting in
Middle Village.
WellLife Network is seeking to fi le a
variance for their proposed mixed-use
apartment building at 80-97 Cypress
Avenue. The non-profit initially
wanted the building to be 28 units but
now wants 66 with 23 units for senior
citizens with disabilities, 23 units for
individuals suffering from mental
illness and 20 for other community
members.
Although representatives from
WellLife Network tried to assure
attendees at the Nov. 14 Community
Board 5 meeting that the apartment
building would be like any other,
some board members expressed safety
concerns.
Assemblyman Mike Miller, meanwhile,
did not believe that housing
those suff ering from mental illness in
facility without mental health services
was appropriate.
“While WellLife Network can provide
housing for the mentally ill, they fall short
on providing basic mental health services,”
Miller wrote in a letter addressed
to Queens Director of City Planning John
Young. “This is not the treatment that the
mentally ill should endure.”
Miller was unable to attend last
night’s meeting but a representative
from his offi ce, Samantha Kung, read
the letter out loud for the community
board. The assemblyman expressed
his support for more aff ordable and
supportive housing, but disagreed “that
this type of housing should be placed at
this location because Glendale already
has housing amenities for people with
disabilities and an additional housing
unit for individuals with special needs.”
He requested that the land use committee
deny the variance claiming that
the neighborhood is already at full
capacity.
The 50,720 square foot building is
meant to promote community and
integration, according to WellLife
Network’s Chief Operating Officer
Ann Marie Barbarotta and CEO Sherry
Tucker.
Tenants would consist of the most
independent of the disabled and
individuals with a history of mental
illness work, go to school and maintain
healthy relationships but for some
reason or anther have found themselves
in a hospital.
“So they would not be what your
normal perception of mentally ill
person would be,” said Tucker. “We
don’t house those.”
WellLife Network, formerly known
as PSCH, is a non-profi t that helps
people and families recovering from
health issues, with a focus on educating
fi scal responsibility.
Despite the voiced concerns, others
viewed the building as a progressive step
towards destigmatizing mental illness.
“I hope you help reduce the stigma
of mental health issues,” said Sarah
Feldman, a 30-year-old member of
Community Board 5 who said she has
battled depression and took issue with
the tone some attendees took when
discussing those who have struggled.
In her opinion, Feldman believes the
building would improve the neighborhood
since the area is not currently
being used.
“We need anything in the mental
health community and we have nothing
right now,” she said.
WellLife Network will have to address
the matter further with the Community
Board 5 Land Use Committee,
which will submit a recommendation
on the variance to the full board at the
next meeting.
Photo courtesy of WellLife Network.
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