NYCHA Budget Woes Could Kill Long-Delayed ENY Facility
The Times has a sad, frustrating story about how the the New York City Housing Authority may be abandoning its plan to build a community center in East New York’s Marcus Garvey housing project. NYCHA tore down a playground in the project eight years ago and started construction on the 5,500-square-foot center that was supposed…
The Times has a sad, frustrating story about how the the New York City Housing Authority may be abandoning its plan to build a community center in East New York’s Marcus Garvey housing project. NYCHA tore down a playground in the project eight years ago and started construction on the 5,500-square-foot center that was supposed to rise in its place. Although the facility is now mostly completed, NYCHA says it may not have the funds to operate the center—or nearly 100 others around the city. NYCHA has taken a big hit, says Councilman Erik Martin Dilan. The children’s programs are obviously in jeopardy, and unless we save them, we might as well set up gang recruitment centers. Kids need their community centers to stay out of trouble. The East New York building, which is supposed to serve the more than 1,048 families who live in the project, has been plagued by delays rooted in rising construction costs and the bankruptcy of a contractor. NYCHA, meanwhile, is facing a $195 million budget deficit this year, which many believe will lead to worsening conditions at public housing around the city.
Promised Brooklyn Community Center May Not Open [NY Times]
NYCHA Funding Shortfall Could Mean Dark Days for Projects [Brownstoner]
It is more or less an accepted fact that tearing down housing projects is the only answer, both to the isue of corruption and also to serving the people who live there.
BrooklynLove, because of the tower-in-the-park design, the floor area ratio at many NYCHA developments is surprisingly low.
12:58
Quite a bit. I’ve done a few jobs for the NYCHA dealing with this very issue.
Unfortunately a lot of the nonprofit community groups that would love to run these centers, don’t have the funds to do it and aren’t getting the funds. But I love the suggestion that Mayor Mike should put his money where his mouth is and fund them. These centers are too important for the future. these are not fluff programs, these are save-your-life programs.
how much undeveloped land does nycha currently own or have the rights to develop?
Don’t kid yourself 11:20. There are people in Park Slope who receive Section 8 and are on government subsidies of one sort or another. They may be few and far in between but they are there and they put on airs as though they don’t work because they are “old money.”
Interesting article – thanks for posting it, Gabby. It’s always good when brownstoner posts about neighborhoods beyond the gentrification belt.
I agree with 10:25 – lease the center to a community-based non-profit and let them take care of operations. Otherwise, a brand-new building will sit empty and millions of dollars will have gone to waste.
lol @ ranting response to 11:03 who was clearly making fun of park slope hijackers.
If Bloomberg is such a great manager, why can’t he clean up this mess? I wonder if anything at all has changed at NYCHA under his tenure.