Update on the Bedford Armory Homeless Saga
When we last checked in with the Bedford Armory, nearby residents were trying to fight efforts by the Department of Homeless Services to move the city’s main intake center from the East 20’s in Manhattan to the historic armory in Crown Heights; more recently the city announced its intention to also increase the number of…
When we last checked in with the Bedford Armory, nearby residents were trying to fight efforts by the Department of Homeless Services to move the city’s main intake center from the East 20’s in Manhattan to the historic armory in Crown Heights; more recently the city announced its intention to also increase the number of homeless beds at the nearby Sumner Avenue Armory from 200 to 1,000. Shortly after last August’s confrontational meeting on the topic between residents and DHS’s George Nashak, a spokesperson for DHS said that the agency would add an additional intake center in Manhattan to lighten the Armory’s load. In hearings later in the year, however, DHS retreated to the position that it was “considering” the Manhattan location. As far as we can figure out, DHS has yet to clarify the situation. In addition, when DHS announced it would be expanding the number of beds at the Bedford-Atlantic Armory, it tried to placate locals by saying it would close down the Peter Young Shelter across the street. Well, they did close Peter Young, but they turned it into a 24-hour detox center, which is always good for the neighborhood quality of life. To protest the treatment the neighborhood is receiving from the city and to announce that a law firm has been retained to fight the city, City Council Members James, Vann and de Blasio along with a number of other elected officials and neighborhood organizations are holding a press conference at City Hall on Sunday at 2 p.m. As we’ve said before, Crown Heights and Bed Stuy already shoulder more than their fair share of these kinds of social services and don’t deserve to be dumped on again.
Shelter Woes Spread From Crown Heights to Bed Stuy [Brownstoner]
Homeless Intake Center Plan Provokes Broad Opposition [Brownstoner]
Pols Gather to Pan Crown Heights Homeless Plan [Brownstoner]
Crown Heights Rally: Don’t Dump On Us! [Brownstoner]
Sorry to put it bluntly, but alot of new people in CHN have payed 700,000 upwards for their houses….The kids go to private schools, we shop in the neighborhood, we shop elsewhere as well. Fairway trucks are a frequent sight. AND as you know, BEDFORD IS VERY CLOSE TO THE CHN/PROSPECT HEIGHTS BORDER (2 streets – Bedford to Franklin to Classon). So do you think that the homeless and drug intake persons will be confined to CHN and not wander into Prospect Heights too ? (where houses go for 1.5 million a few streets over from us ). All those kids renting at the Jewish hospital on Prospect Pl should be concerned too. Frankly Im tired of officials dumping their social problems on parts of the city that are already saturated with “challenges” shall we say. This neighborhood is just getting better and the City wants to put the ghetto back into CHN and Prospect Heights – take us back 10 years ! There must be another solution. In fact I know of a homeless type shelter right on 24th and Lexington. Somehow those who are homeless manage to get their coffees just fine….We all must share the burden we all must do our part, personally and collectively to improve the lives of people who are marginalised. But some areas feel all of the burden, while others feel nothing at all.
Rob, the studies, if I remember correctly, have shown that Manhattan has the highest number of homeless. So, simple question, why not put the service where the need is higher? Also, to say that such services should only go in nabes like CH is short-sighted and rather prejudiced (NO- I am *NOT* calling you a racist, please don’t make that leap). I mean it in the sense that suggesting that the city should put all of these services there as opposed to other nabes just because they didn’t pay 2mill+ for their homes is at the very least economic prejudice.
actually pete that IS a really good point pete. *rescinding my original post*
Besides considering the effect on the immediate vicinity,
need to also consider where homeless are better served. And I doubt Crown Heights is the answer. The hospitals and other social services, transportation and mental health services are not located there.
Plus, having a facility for that many people in a lower density neighborhood is going to have a more dramatic effect on quality of life of nearby residents.
Certainly smells to me of dumping problem where seen by fewer and less powerful citizens of this city.
Shame on Bloomberg and all you Bloomberg fans.
you’re responding cuz it’s an important issue and you made good points putnam.
*rob*
Rob:
By your reasoning all social services should be packed into a few lower-income neighborhoods. Since the fine burgers of Crown Heights haven’t paid 2 million dollars for their condos your reasoning is that those in power should ignore their pleas to distribute social services and intakes more fairly. Remember, this is not a service for those primarily from the neighborhood – rather it is the intake for homeless men throughout the city. While you may be correct that those with money in the central districts of the city seem to believe that they have some right to have the streets cleaned of “undesirables”, others disagree, adn have been organizing to counteract this misconception.
As far as coffee and cigarettes being cheaper in Crown Heights (not BEd-Stuy) than the east side (not Chelsea). I really don’t know what to say. Homeless people don’t reside anywhere (thus the moniker of “homeless”). The city ships them hither and thither according to the pressures of the day. I doubt that anyone considers whether coffee is 80 cents or 1.25 at the corner bodega. Nor should they.
Why am I responding? Sigh.
because they are paying more? i dont know. throw tomatoes at me if you must. it’s also disingenuous to say “have to put up with” to begin with. i mean on one hand i agree. i think it would be hysterical if the government all of a sudden decided to fill up all the stupid boutique hotels and empty condos with homeless people but on the other hand, you have to be realistic. no one who worth millions of dollars wants to live next door to boxcar willy.
*r*
“people in 2 million dollar condos are just not going to put up with having a homeless shelter next to them”
And the folks of this area should not have to put up with the disproportionate number of these services in their backyard either. Why should the 2mill condos get a pass?
i feel like i should respond, but i really do have issue with this. probably not a popular one, but whatever. having homeless people reside in an area WHERE THE AMENITIES ARE CHEAPER to begin with makes sense. homeless people still need their coffee, ciggies, food, etc.. it’s much cheaper to be homeless in bed stuy than in chelsea. that’s just life. and people in 2 million dollar condos are just not going to put up with having a homeless shelter next to them. that’s just life too. on that note, im sure in 2 months ill living there! woo woo
*rob*