Crown Heights Group Still Doesn't Want Homeless Center
Crown Heights residents continue to fight the mayor’s plan to move the intake center for homeless men from Manhattan to the Bedford-Atlantic Armory. Crown Heights Revitalization Movement (CHRM, pronounced “charm”) organizer Rachel Pratt said in an email about their planned June 1 rally, “At this point, we believe that we will be joined by Borough…
Crown Heights residents continue to fight the mayor’s plan to move the intake center for homeless men from Manhattan to the Bedford-Atlantic Armory. Crown Heights Revitalization Movement (CHRM, pronounced “charm”) organizer Rachel Pratt said in an email about their planned June 1 rally, “At this point, we believe that we will be joined by Borough President Marty Markowitz, City Council Member Letitia James, NYS Assemblymen Karim Camara and Hakeem Jeffries, and NYS Senator Eric Adams.” The massive armory at Bedford and Atlantic Avenue is already a temporary shelter that sleeps 350 homeless single men, and is known as among the worst in the system. In private, local residents told us they’re already overwhelmed by the crowds of homeless men who regularly congregate on the sidewalks surrounding the shelter, especially in the early mornings when the building is evacuated for cleaning. “I’m not exactly sending my kids out to play on the street,” said one. The community district has six times the average residential social services beds at 116 per 100 acres, the highest in the borough.
CHRM’s website also voices concerns about increased street homelessness (60 percent of the city’s homeless live in Manhattan, not exactly a quick jaunt to Crown Heights), more bus traffic and worse conditions for the homeless. A source close to the mayor’s office told us the goal is to make the intake center more difficult to reach so fewer men would turn to the shelter system, in hopes that they would instead stay with friends or family. The source said the city’s most at-risk homeless population tends to avoid shelters, and the mayor would rather use the money spent on shelters for permanent housing. We were told each bed cost $35,000 annually. But Patrick Markee of the Coalition for the Homeless told us the annual cost of shelter for a single homeless adult is $18,000, and $33,000 for a family. “Last year when the City closed a large shelter for homeless men NONE of the savings was re-directed to permanent housing for homeless individuals.”
Markowitz Eyeing Citywide Run, But Still Brooklyn-centric [Daily News]
Crown Heights Doesn’t Want Homeless Intake Center [Brownstoner]
Mayor’s Intake Plan Misguided [Coalition for the Homeless]
“10:19…it seems that you have it in for Crown Heights….”
Incorrect. I have nothing against Crown Heights.
“When I first discovered this blog about two years ago, I was so excited because it was totally about Brooklyn. I was born and breed in Brooklyn and I love every part of it.”
Congratulations. I feel the same way.
“Why would you think that this proposal would not affect other neighborhoods?”
When you show me where I said that it would not affect other neighborhoods, then I’ll answer your question.
“How do think that most of these gentlemen will get to the Armory? Limo? Cab? No…our good ole subway system.”
Any idea how many people use the subway each day? You’re talking about a drop in the bucket. If you’re unhappy with subway service, tell it to the MTA and stop venting your bile on the homeless people of our city.
“So before you go and support a proposal without fully thinking it through because it’s not in your neck of the woods, think of the borough that you decided to make home, not just the street in the borough.”
For your information, I do live in Crown Heights. So before you go and make assumptions without fully thinking them through, try actually reading the posts you’re replying to.
NOP, you are so correct in your vision of a beautiful Grant Square. I look forward to this vision coming true as Crown Heights grows and prospers in the years to come.
Montrose Morris
Biff,
I’m breeding three children who love Brooklyn. LOL!
Nostalgic on Park Avenue,
Crown Heights Revitalization Movement’s website is http://www.revitalizecrownheights.org/
To which organization at what address can I send a check?
Nostalgic on Park Avenue
“I was born and breed in Brooklyn”.
faithful, I couldn’t resist! Hopefully you’re breeding many children with your passion and sense of pride for Brooklyn.
It’s going to take more than rallies- every bit of political clout you can muster will be important. The Mayor has long thought of Brooklyn as Manhattan’s annex and dumping ground. His legacy will be to leave Manhattan a rarefied island of luxury housing, restaurants, and tourist attractions while the “outer” boroughs will be holding bins for whatever doesn’t fit. And while he has been more than generous in donating to the arts (and lord knows they need it), when it comes to anything related to social issues, Bloomberg doesn’t get it.
I’m curious to see what our next mayor does. At least with Marty you know he’ll champion Brooklyn.
Right on Nostalgic on Park Avenue and 10:42!!! I will not only be at the rally because I have a vested interest in the immediate neighborhood, but because I have a vested interest in Brooklyn as a whole.
When the Mayor does this, he’s seeking to dump Manhattan’s problems on all of Brooklyn, not just Crown Heights. As others have pointed out, the homeless will largely ride the subways to get to Brooklyn. Clearly not all will make it as far as Crown Heights, stopping off in Brooklyn Heights, downtown, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, etc. I’m ready to rally!
Faithful (10:19):
What a building! And what a handsome public space — Grant Square! Both were down the street from me when I grew up in Crown Heights during the 1950’s.
This place should be the pride of Brooklyn. The “bones” are already there: the armory, the Imperial Apartments, the old Union League Club, and several other handsome buildings, all framing an ample intersection that with some sidewalk treatment, lighting, and landscaping could rival — yes! — Grand Army Plaza. (Come to think of it, throw in a farmer’s market.)
What the City’s doing to Crown Heights is what happened to the neighborhood when I was a boy, when government indifference allowed a robust middle-class neighborhood to spiral into disrepair that only now — through the efforts of people like you — is coming back.
Sure, sprinkle homeless shelters throughout the city so every neighborhood shares social responsibility, but don’t concentrate the homeless in Crown Heights. And if the existing shelter at the armory stays, mix it with improvements and other uses that will polish and enliven Grant Square.
Nostalgic on Park Avenue