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June 15, 2009

Another New Build-Turned-Shelter Upsetting Residents

bed%20stuy%20homeless.jpg
The Daily News has another story about a new construction building that's been turned into a homeless shelter, this time in Bed-Stuy rather than Crown Heights. In this case, a building at 652 Park Avenue was allowed to be built to twice the size allowed by zoning because architect Harry Radusky said in DOB filings that it was going to be used as a dorm for teachers and students at a Jewish school in Williamsburg—thus qualifying for "community use" supersizing. While DOB officials say that the property's current use as a homeless shelter likely also qualifies as a community facility, some residents aren't thrilled with the switcheroo: "We were deceived. When they first started building it they said it was going to be apartments," said Melissa Mona, 27, who lives across from the hulking building at 652 Park Ave., which now takes in a revolving door of homeless families. "It's not right," added Mona. "I think we should know who's moving into our community." Radusky—who has a track record of manipulating and sidestepping DOB restrictions—claims no wrongdoing. The developer of 652 Park is getting paid $100,000 a month in rent by the Bushwick Economic Development Corp. for the shelter.
Bed-Stuy Residents Furious Over Condo Project [NY Daily News] GMAP
Condo-Turned-Shelter Sparks Homeless Frenzy [Brownstoner]
Photo from Everyscape.




Posted by Gabby at 9:00 AM | Comments (21)
Categories: Bedford Stuyvesant, Homeless

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Anybody know what they paid for the lot and what the construction costs were? Also, how many units are there??? $100,000 a month sounds like a lot of money. At $1.2MM per year how long will it take to recoup ALL costs?? 3,4,maybe 5 years????

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 15, 2009 9:10 AM

C of O says 58 units...$1,724 per month each sounds high, no???

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 15, 2009 9:21 AM

Hiya Dumbasses! I told ya!

I have a new phase it's called the "WONDO"! Condo +Welfare, ROTFLMMFAO!!!

Kool-Aid and Blunts for everyone! You are finished...

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at June 15, 2009 9:27 AM

Is it near a popular synagogue? I'm told those more than absurd $$ for houses in Borough Park (e.g., $8 million for a $750k house), though I'm still convinced it's some sort of money laundering scheme.

Why shouldn't the homeless have to pay a similar premium?

Posted by: tybur6 at June 15, 2009 9:42 AM

As soon as these down-on-their-lucks move in they won't be homeless any more so no need for the community to object.

Posted by: dittoburg at June 15, 2009 10:05 AM

Wow a dorm building built for teachers is now a dorm building for homeless people.......it is really getting scary, I mean how close can we get to One Prospect Park being converted into a Methadone clinic before we realize that we are in the grips of "the-end-of-days."

Posted by: fsrg at June 15, 2009 11:03 AM

This switcheroo seems to be common. Why isn't anyone on it? Or is it more convenient not to be? I have a friend now who can't get a coo (is that the right phrasing) because her condo (which was built initially as housing for rabbinical students as dorms) was then turned into condos and sold. I am not sure of the particulars, only that they have been in a lawsuit for ages and none of the owners knew what the buildings were originally supposed to be built for (and apparently, by calling it a dorm, these building are held to different zoning standards.)and now no one call sell, or refinance. Weird that developers get to side step regulations and seemingly don't have to pay any price....

Posted by: roofrights at June 15, 2009 11:34 AM

There is going t obe a lot more of this in this area. Crown Heights, Bed stuy, Clinton Hill, and Fort Greene have all been marked for this kind of conversion. I heard a certain empty tower in Fort Greene that aint selling is in discusions with HUD.

Posted by: brickoven at June 15, 2009 11:39 AM

i can sympathize with the frustration at the bait-and-switch, and i get the whole disproportional public services facilities argument. but i don't get the sentiment that they think they have a right to know who's moving into their community - in this case, it boils down to knowing who's paying the rent. no one really has a right to know that, and you don't know what the answer is for the majority of the neighbors. the difference here is that this woman thinks the knowledge would allow her to judge the suitability of these people as neighbors, and that's kind of scary. does that mean i ought to investigate which of my neighbors are rent controlled and which of them might be reliant trust funds (and everything in between) in order to be properly monitoring my community?

Posted by: i disagree at June 15, 2009 11:46 AM

Real Estate always goes up, right?

Up your asses!!!!!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end..

Funny no one is here I think the truth hurts...

Posted by: Return of The What at June 15, 2009 11:48 AM

I agree with you on that one, I disagree.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at June 15, 2009 12:24 PM

I love my anus. Would you like to see it?

I woudl be living here if my mother didn't let me live in her house rent free.

Posted by: ghettoazzpnkbtch at June 15, 2009 12:43 PM

I do as well, I disagree.

Posted by: bxgrl at June 15, 2009 1:30 PM

wow!! maybe i should play the lottery today! ;)

Posted by: i disagree at June 15, 2009 1:33 PM

Is there anything left in this city between $1400/ month and homeless shelter? I don't understand how someone working for the city for example, making 38K a year is even supposed to live in the city. Maybe if developers weren't allowed to go buckwild on beautiful historic neighborhoods with overpriced eyesores and there were modest apartments for modest people we wouldn't need friggin' homeless shelters! I also don't think a homeless shelter is the best place for most homeless to be. A drug rehab or mental hospital would probably help them more.

Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at June 15, 2009 2:12 PM

And don't give me that "Social worker on site" bullshit. Manny the bum just pushed a 19-year-old girl off a subway platform, where's his social-worker now?

Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at June 15, 2009 2:16 PM

Ah man! This trend is spiraling out of control. But I like it. It's time for the less fortunate to marvel.

***Bid half off peak comps***

Posted by: Brownstones Half Off at June 15, 2009 2:35 PM

Radusky has built more nonexistent yeshivas in Brooklyn than any other architect to my knowledge. The mayor's long term plan for affordable housing?

http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-07-05/news/too-tall-in-park-slope/


Anyone know how the Spencer Street condos turned out?

Posted by: IMBY at June 15, 2009 2:40 PM

ok 2nd time Bushwich economic dev corp appears. With big money being paid out.
What political cronies are connected to this thing and who is checking their books?

Posted by: Petebklyn at June 15, 2009 2:59 PM

Yeah, follow the money.

Posted by: IMBY at June 15, 2009 4:11 PM

Ah, yet another example of how everyone wants to help the homeless, but no one wants them living next door. Ship 'em somewhere else, right?

Posted by: Big Jugs at June 15, 2009 8:51 PM

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