"Affordable" Condos Where Brownstone Stood
When we reported last Spring on the Pratt Area Community Council’s move to tear down a derelict but salvageable brownstone at 483 Washington Avenue in order to build new affordable housing, we made no secret of our dismay at the decision. The three posts on the topic generated a lots of discussion and even a…
When we reported last Spring on the Pratt Area Community Council’s move to tear down a derelict but salvageable brownstone at 483 Washington Avenue in order to build new affordable housing, we made no secret of our dismay at the decision. The three posts on the topic generated a lots of discussion and even a lengthy response from PACC’s director which we posted on the site. Although we recognize that PACC has been a very positive force in the community for a long time, we still strongly disagree with its decision to destroy a piece of Clinton Hill’s heritage. And what for? We have just learned that the new building, to be called The Dewitt Condominium, will have eight apartments. The one- and two-bedroom condos will be priced from $212,000 to $284,000 (and, from the looks of the building site, won’t be ready for some time). The email we saw had language straight out of a Corcoran listing: “These newly- constructed apartments have state-of-the-art amenities – bamboo floors, on-site laundry and modern kitchens.” First time homebuyers who make no more than $66,469 and $79,763 (depending on family size) are elegible to apply through October 27th. Applications can be picked up at a PACC office or by mailing a SASE to PACC, Attn: The DeWitt Condominium, 201 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205. Winners will be picked by lottery.
The profile of this development raises an interesting question: We see why a family making this level of income could use a helping hand, but does a single person making $65,000 a year really need or deserve a hand-out like this? Heck, we have some younger siblings recently out of college who would certainly qualify and we have a hunch they weren’t who PACC had in mind when they set this up. It would also be interesting to know how these lotteries work. Are they really random or is there a lot of subjective screening that goes on to winnow it down to a small pool from which the lucky few are “randomly” chosen? Another question: Does PACC receive government grants or does it raise its money privately? Ultimately, to whom is it responsible?
What’s Really Happening at 483 Washington [Brownstoner] GMAP
What a Difference a Week Makes on Washington [Brownstoner]
PACC Director Gives Her Side of the Story [Brownstoner]
This may be a bit late but as far as the govt aid being fair, if Bruce Ratner can get some financial help . . .
This article from the NYT (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E4DF1131F937A15751C1A9609C8B63&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FPeople%2FC%2FChamberlain%2C%20Lisa) reports that the demolished brownstone at 483 Washington was “beyond repair”. It also says the new building will have 16 apartments — 8 sold at market rate to subsidize the other 8 — and that the city refused to subsidize it.
Don’t know if anyone is still reading this thread, but it’s some interesting information.
I can’t say I have a clue about what affordable housing is or what the level of income should be before you can qualify, but I can say, if I get picked in the lottery, this will be the ONLY apartment I can afford to buy anywhere within 40 minutes of Manhattan by subway.
I’m a little past 35 and have been living in a three bedroom apartment for the past 9+ years with two roommates so I could save for a downpayment on an apartment. I have enough for a downpayment now, but when I do the math on common charges and mortgage costs it is just not possible for me to afford something close to Manhattan. I live well within my means, saving about 30% of my GROSS income and even this does not seem enough when you start looking at having to spend upwards of $2500 on monthly costs.
I, for one, hope PACC can do this same thing over and over again, even if I do get picked in this lottery. I know too many people who have been forced to leave an area they love simply because it has become economically infeasible for them.
My friend had the same experience — early application, returned to sender unclaimed. Our tax dollars are supporting this organization. Is there some governing body that is supposed to ensure that the lottery is run on the level?
This lottery was fixed! I applied very early, the date stamped on the envelope was 9/29/06. My application was sent back to me “marked return to sender unclaimed”!
I sent it with more than enough time for them to pick it up from the PO Box. Afraid I made a mistake and sent it to the wrong address I double checked the application to be sure and everything was correct.
FIXED, FIXED, FIXED! I’m upset I wasted my time and postage.
Does PACC have a website? If so, it probably explains something about the financing of their projects. Usually, it seems to me, these types of organizations get sporadic bits of money from 1)politicians who happen to want to be associated with them, 2)much more than that from foundations, and 3)some from running their housing projects, though someone who works in this field told me they never make any money from these developments.
But I wouldn’t call them “subsidized” by the government; in fact, it’s the other way around: private foundations are subsidizing what government ought to be doing because the market cannot and/or will not, which is to provide what, in the annoying, confusing and imprecise jargon of housing advocates, is called “affordable housing.” If this is “subsidy,” then so are the 421a tax abatements that even luxury developers get outside of Manhattan.
Also, I think generally the contributions of government and foundation money are used very efficiently by the addition of regular old private financing that can be leveraged on top of the gov/found. commitments.
You’ve got to be kidding. The entire affordable housing industry is built around syndicated tax credits. You can’t “send a link” on it. That’s like saying send me a link on how automobiles run on gas.
I am sure that PACC gave a lot of thought to their guidelines. So whoever they consider eligible is fine by me. They are a well-established, well-respected community-based nonprofit run by thoughtful intelligent people.
I know many people who purchase homes (myself included) get financial help from family members and developers certainly get government subsidies, so why not individuals who don’t have these resources.
I don’t begrudge people who qualify for a program applying for it and hopefully getting the chance to purchase an apartment they can afford. I don’t want to live in a neighborhood entirely made up of “brownstoners.”
Federal low income housing tax credits have nothing to do with this PACC project…they’re strictly for families earning less than $30-odd a year. And I’m pretty sure they have to be used for rentals.
I think it’s great that PACC and other Bklyn housing orgs are going beyond the tax credit program’s limitations and finding creative ways to do ownership for moderate-income families.