Habitat Brownsville Project a Game-Changer
Remember that Habitat for Humanity project in Brownsville we covered last month? Turns out, according to a story in the Times, that 41-unit condo is the largest housing development that Habitat’s ever had a hand in. It’s also led the organization to start changing its development model in New York City so that it focuses…
Remember that Habitat for Humanity project in Brownsville we covered last month? Turns out, according to a story in the Times, that 41-unit condo is the largest housing development that Habitat’s ever had a hand in. It’s also led the organization to start changing its development model in New York City so that it focuses more on multi-unit builds rather than single-family homes. “Ideally, in our quest to serve as many families in need as possible, what we want to do is to be as nimble and as entrepreneurial as possible,” said Josh Lockwood, Habitat’s executive director in New York City. The nonprofit is currently building other large developments in the Bronx.
Making History in a Brooklyn Neighborhood [NY Times]
Closings, Move-Ins in Progress at Habitat Brownsville Build [Brownstoner]
Photo by Ari Burling
um not. i think this is a good project, but im going to be a phoney and even attmept to paint the neighborhoods as even remotely nice. that’s why things like this do exist in these nabes. duh! that said, it’s a good thing, and i enjoyed the article, but getting a lecture from smoeone above who i can bet dollars to donuts never lived in public housing (newsflash i did). so whatever. denton, you are such a tool sometimes. if you think i WANT things like this to fail, you just dont know me.
*rob*
I agree. Plus some of us need to actually be around the people who are eager to live here, and who are ready to do what is necessary, not to mention actually go to neighborhoods like Brownsville. Might dispel some of the notions widely held around here about people and places.
I love doing HFH work. I second the call for Mr. B to organize a group of B’Stoner posters to volunteer. I think a lot of us would really enjoy it.
bis, rob has been told that many times by any number of people including myself. But of course to no avail.
I’ve been by this development a number of times and have to say it is quite handsome.
I worked on the Brownsville HFH build last year (I put in flooring and built walls). I was a really moving experience, being that we worked alongside the very family who was moving into that apartment.
They only take group volunteers for the most part, so I say that Mr. B organize a Brownstoner build day.
Rob:
Just a bit of history. The NYCHA units in New York City were built for working families much like the Habitat for Humanities condos. In its heyday NYCHA projects were a step up from cold water flats that were the most affordable housing options for working (ie. wage earning) families. The resident profile shifted in the sixties and seventies. In the sixties, it was found to be discriminatory to exclude families without husbands present. In the seventies, the Nixon administration handed down guidelines that required housing residents to pay 30% of their income towards their housing costs. At that point it became less attractive to remain in NYCHA developments and incentivized the rapid abandonment of this housing option for higher income residents. They bought their own homes. (When one could buy a brownstone for $25K – $35K. Those who remainde were poorer, may have received disability or survivor income as well as the flawed AFDC. To label NYCHA residents as moochers is flawed.
i read this story. it was a good. definitely a good thing.
the new tenants who got into the program that were featured and interviewed in the article seem really happy about their new homes. plus they have jobs that are important to keep in the city, they arent moochers like people in the real projects.
*rob*
New York City – It’s only right to go multi. We’re trend setters!
***Help Haiti***