Crown Heights Affordable Housing Petition Gathers 700 Signatures

Crown Heights residents want more affordable housing, it appears. In only two weeks, the Crown Heights Assembly got 700 signatures for its petition to add mandatory inclusionary housing to the Crown Heights West rezoning, according to a press release from the group posted on the blog I Love Franklin Ave. In addition to demanding that developers be required to build affordable housing, the group wants to create an Anti-Harassment Area. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development would be required to investigate whether tenants were harassed before landlords will be granted request for demolition or “substantial” changes. Such areas were established in Greenpoint and Williamsburg as part of the 2005 rezoning and other areas of the city, according to the group. (The online petition shows fewer than 700 signatures; however, 200 signatures were obtained in person, according to the release.) However, it may be too late for the group on this go-round. A city council vote on the rezoning was scheduled to take place earlier this month.

Crown Heights Assembly Press Release [I Love Franklin Ave.]
Occupy Challenges Crown Heights Rezoning [Brownstoner]
Photo by Department of City Planning