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If you think an underground parking lot is a strange priority for our current budget, you'll probably be interested in this article from AtlanticYardsReport.com (12/9/08). It talks about the $400,000,000 of low interest financing for the City Point project right next to the new micro-park/parking lot:

Advocates say housing subsidy too high for CityPoint units, urge HDC to reconsider

When the issue is affordable housing subsidies, an applicant shouldn't be asking for more per unit than has been established for other projects.

That was the lesson of a public hearing held yesterday by the New York City Housing Development Corporation (NYC HDC), a first step to consider $400 million in low-interest financing for some 810 units--perhaps 20-25% affordable--at the the CityPoint tower planned at the Albee Square Mall site in Downtown Brooklyn.

Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE), a fierce critic of the effects of the Downtown Brooklyn rezoning, brought several members to protest the CityPoint plan.

But the most effective testimony came from Paula Crespo, a planner at the Pratt Center for Community Development working with FUREE, who pointed out that the $1.9 million in bonds requested per unit was "extremely high." Some HDC projects have required only $150,000 to $400,000 per unit, she said. (Clarification: The testimony she delivered was on behalf of herself and Pratt Center director Brad Lander.)

[continues at http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2008/12/advocates-says-housing-subsidy-too-high.html ]

Posted by: Friend of Duffield at January 29, 2009 5:49 PM in response to City Secures Rest of Willoughby Square Park Properties

I work with the advocates of 227 Duffield, and after months of discussion with V3 (the owners of Indigo), we developed a solid proposal with the assistance of a new team of lawyers. V3 rejected our proposal. We have always been and will continue to consider any proposal they might have.

Our new team of lawyers and others are laying the organizational and financial groundwork for an independent museum. This is separate from the City's initiative to commemorate Brooklyn's anti-slavery history- we're glad to work with them as well.

It's been a odd ride, but I am optimistic that we will be able to create a museum at 227 Duffield, and I think this will be a great addition to Downtown Brooklyn.

Posted by: Friend of Duffield at January 29, 2009 3:48 PM in response to City Secures Rest of Willoughby Square Park Properties