City Planning Approves FAC Project at 575 5th Ave
The Fifth Avenue Committee won the latest battle in the war over the 49-unit supportive housing project it is seeking to build on a municipal parking lot at 575 Fifth Avenue in the South Slope when the New York City Planning Commission blessed the project yesterday. Back in April, Brooklyn Boro Prez Marty Markowitz came…
The Fifth Avenue Committee won the latest battle in the war over the 49-unit supportive housing project it is seeking to build on a municipal parking lot at 575 Fifth Avenue in the South Slope when the New York City Planning Commission blessed the project yesterday. Back in April, Brooklyn Boro Prez Marty Markowitz came out publicly against the project, siding with a certain faction of neighbors who were concerned about the unseemly residents it would bring into the area. FAC addressed this issue in its press release: “The City Planning Commission’s vote in favor of the project is an important step in preserving the diversity in our Park Slope community and ensuring that everyone regardless of race, income or medical history can live with dignity in the neighborhood.” The press release also contained details about the composition of the units: 24 are slotted for formerly homeless people living with mental illness, 5 for formerly homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and 20 for low-income community residents. Next step: A City Council’s Land Use Committee hearing. GMAP
Marty DK’s Fifth Avenue Housing Project [Brownstoner]
City Planning Considers 5th Ave Housing Facility [Brownstoner]
FAC Development at 575 Fifth Avenue [Brownstoner]
anon at 4:29, you wrote:
“More of these facilities need to be put in even more affluent neighborhoods all over the city!”
In other words the excess of people in need of treatment has already overwhelmed the poorer neighborhoods. Thus, in your view, it’s time to expand the number of facilities in better neighborhoods to damage the quality of life there as well.
You wrote:
“The number of supportive housing faculties in decent neighborhoods that provide the formerly drug addicted, HIV positive or mentally ill a safe environment (with decreased access to negative influences)to recover is negligible when compared to the enormous need for these services.”
In other words, decent neighborhoods are to be penalized for being decent. There are lots of colleges and universities in poor neighborhoods that have suffered from various social pathologies. Yale for one. I haven’t noticed an improvement in those neighborhoods due to the presence of law-abiding students.
You wrote:
“Mental illness, drug addiction, being HIV positive and not earning 100 grand a year does not a bad person make!”
Mental illness affects many criminals. Drug addiction is one of the most common factors driving the commission of crimes. So, yes mental illness and drug addition does a bad person make.
You wrote:
“Mental illness can be treated with medication and with the ancillary services, support and supervision provided by these facilities…”
Yes, I’ve known schizophrenics living in these settings. They remain as nuts as ever, subdued when they take their medication and troublesome when they don’t.
You wrote:
“…individuals can begin to live productive lives & become contributing parts of society.”
You think there are jobs around Park Slope for the mentally ill? Perhaps the city government will create administrative positions for the mentally ill when these facilities are opened and need staff, but that’s about it.
You wrote:
“I work with the mentally ill in a community based program and can tell you that many of their struggles derive from individuals in society & government with insular, myopic thinking such as yours…”
Yes, of course, schizophrenia is caused by the bad thoughts of some people who aim their thoughts at those they want to harm. Yeah.
You wrote:
“Creating ghettos of the ill and poor is not the answer.”
Ghettos result when people refuse to practice societal norms. Properly staffed facilities in a place like Floyd Bennett Field beats letting incompetent people mingle with the general population where their behavior is inflicted on people without the power or inclination to improve it. However, that’s when the cops are called.
You wrote:
“We all live in society and if we are not actively trying to help those less fortunate then us to improve society then we are part of the problem.”
Yeah, yeah. If we’re not part of the solution, we’re part of the problem. Very 60s.
You wrote:
“Obviously bigotry is a driving force in keeping potentially productive individuals from success but silence and inaction is almost as bad.”
Nonsense. I’ve lived near these facilities and have known people with many of the pathologies associated with them. There’s no evidence either the unfortunate people or the neighbors benefit from the proximity.
I am a psychiatrist who has worked for a non-profit in the city. The non-profit provided just the sort of housing FAC is planning to build. The ONLY people who can get into this type of housing are those that have jumped through MANY MANY hoops and have enough wherewithal to live on their own.
Some of the buildings are in the East village (alphabet city, in fact) – way before any of it was gentrified. None of the new ‘upscale’ neighbors had any problems – and made friends with the buildings’ residents.
To bring in the tragedy of Kendra Webdale – and Andrew Goldstein (the homeless and mentally ill person who pushed her in front of the subway) just muddies the issue. Andrew Goldstein would never have been placed in such a housing in the first place.
I used to live right above the Blockbuster at 15th and 5th and now live three blocks away. My family has no problems with this project.
There are multiple therapists and psychiatrist who live in the Slope and provide services to the mentally ill, including the ‘worried well’ as well as people with major depression, bipolar, or psychotic disorders.
There is a mental health clinic on 13th street.
Methodist Hospital has a psychiatric unit, as well as infectious diseases specialists (just so that we cover the HIV/AIDS issue).
None of the patients/clients of those many providers have caused any difficulties in the neighborhood.
While I cannot predict that the building’s new residents will never cause problems, I certainly have neighbors who have caused ruckus, had police called to the house, and in general are not pleasant to live next to (Coucilman De Blah Blah included).
anon 4:21 you wrote:
“…and yes, i live in park slope, near the facility and am quite happy with the decision made above.”
Yeah, sure. Like it matters that you approve. The fact remains that those who live in the houses and buildings near this facility will begin to resent their new neighbors when the new neighbors impair the quality of the much improved life along that stretch of Fifth Avenue.
You’re delusional if you think these people will add a joyful dimension to life in Park Slope.
The bigotry and stupidity of the past posts is mind numbing. This is a huge success. More of these facilities need to be put in even more affluent neighborhoods all over the city! The number of supportive housing faculties in decent neighborhoods that provide the formerly drug addicted, HIV positive or mentally ill a safe environment (with decreased access to negative influences)to recover is negligible when compared to the enormous need for these services. Mental illness, drug addiction, being HIV positive and not earning 100 grand a year does not a bad person make! Mental illness can be treated with medication and with the ancillary services, support and supervision provided by these facilities individuals can begin to live productive lives & become contributing parts of society. I work with the mentally ill in a community based program and can tell you that many of their struggles derive from individuals in society & government with insular, myopic thinking such as yours (just pull yourself up bootstraps, I did it so can you) that fail to take into account the role of genetic predisposition, available education and support services and general under servicing of the lower classes. Creating ghettos of the ill and poor is not the answer. We all live in society and if we are not actively trying to help those less fortunate then us to improve society then we are part of the problem. Obviously bigotry is a driving force in keeping potentially productive individuals from success but silence and inaction is almost as bad.
the person saying to move them to floyd bennett field is a total moron. you clearly are either a hard core replublican or too young and ignorant to know that the policies of moving people like this into the outskirts or into formed housing projects as was done in the 60s, 70’s is PRECISELY what caused the decline of the american city.
diversity, take that word in many different contexts is the key to urban life. the KEY.
anyone who suggests putting a segmented part of the population into an outlying area need not continue living in a city any longer.
you are taking up much needed space for people that do value these things in life.
and yes, i live in park slope, near the facility and am quite happy with the decision made above.
not to mention that there are former homeless, people with hiv and drug problems living all amoung us this very second. some of these folks may have been down on their luck for a little more and a little more severely than thee average joe, but to say that someone with one of the above problems make them essentially useless to society, therefore not be able to interract with one, sounds very bush-like (and scary !!!) to me.
jake, you wrote:
“I agree with most of it, except with the “Floyd Bennett Field” part.”
What’s wrong with making use of Floyd Bennett Field? It’s huge and vacent.
There are obstacles, of course. It is no longer owned by the city. I think it is now controlled by the Department of the Interior. But, they’ve done nothing either. That’s government administration for you. Let valuable assets sit idle for decades.
lostinbrooklyn, you wrote:
“Even better. So someone who does not even live in the area should dictate who live there.”
I suppose you would respond to the idea of convicted sex offenders in your neighborhood the same way. It appears you think people in a neighborhood should accept anyone in their midst, even those who are the very people who impair the quality of life with their presence.
You wrote:
“Did not know FAC had anything in YOUR neighborhood…wait, they don’t do they?”
The building in my neighborhood that had been occupied by the hookers, drug dealers, and mentally ill was emptied last year — after at least seven years of use as a city dumping ground for undesireables.
I repeat, the families in the houses around this building are thrilled about their successful drive to get the bums out of the neighborhood.
Eventually, the people on Fifth Ave will feel the same way.
Furthermore, I believe the city has many options for housing these people without putting them in rebounding neighborhoods where they will impair the quality of life.
Like I said, Floyd Bennett Field way down Flatbush Avenue is vacant with the exception of the base for the NYPD Helicopter facility. There are thousands of acres there on which to build excellent facilities for those in need.
There are smart approaches to handling social ills and stupid approaches. The Fifth Avenue building is an example of a stupid plan.
neighborhood for nuts at May 28, 2007 11:40 AM
I agree with most of it, except with the “Floyd Bennett Field” part.
Though it may be apples and oranges, we just received two renovated buildings via “Cinderella”. Just a couple blocks from this site. I already witnessed the gathering youths on the street corner, drinking beer and being obnoxious to passer bys.
I hate to hate on the less fortunate, but I wish it can be more transparent.
Even better. So someone who does not even live in the area should dictate who live there.
Did not know FAC had anything in YOUR neighborhood…wait, they don’t do they?
Perfect ending to a bizarre post.
Make’s sense now. Enjoy the holiday 🙂