HUD Official Speaks the Unspeakable: Selling The Projects
As we’ve mentioned before, rumors about the privatization of certain public housing projects in parts of rapidly gentrifying areas of Brooklyn have been circulating for a couple of years. Most recently, we wrote about the theory that the Ingersoll and Whitman Houses in Fort Greene were being emptied in anticipation of such a move; it’s…
As we’ve mentioned before, rumors about the privatization of certain public housing projects in parts of rapidly gentrifying areas of Brooklyn have been circulating for a couple of years. Most recently, we wrote about the theory that the Ingersoll and Whitman Houses in Fort Greene were being emptied in anticipation of such a move; it’s also not hard to imagine something similar happening at the Farragut Houses, given their close proximity to Dumbo, the most expensive neighborhood in Brooklyn. Given what a politically and emotionally charged issue this is, however, no public official has ever said anything in its favor, as far as we know. But, on Tuesday, Sean Moss, the regional administrator for the federal Housing and Urban Development Department, went out on a serious limb. In light of the New York Housing Authority’s dismal financial position (an annual shortfall of $200 million), he said, selling public housing buildings in the most upscale areas could make sense. “It may displace some people, and that is a concern,” Moss said. “That is not necessarily a bad thing if you can create more housing [elsewhere] with that.” We’ll see whether political pressures force him to backpedal in the coming days.
Feds Eye NY Building Sale at Housing Projects [NY Daily News]
Bye Bye Public Housing, Hello Luxe Condos? [Curbed]
What’s Really Going on at the Ingersoll Houses? [Brownstoner]
Yes, 12:34, I agree. There have been some unethical, ignorant and mean-spirited comments on this thread. Sad indeed.
FG/GL
Okay, so you don’t trust the City to sell public housing and use the proceeds in a fair, equitable and just manner. But what’s the solution for public housing? The buildings are starting to move past their maintainable lifetime. Funding is drying up and there is no middle ground between public assistance and market rents.
I don’t trust the City either, but a sale would result in a HUGE influx of cash.
Those comments make me so sad. They lack insight and are totally heartless. You people could care less about these families as long as them moving means a starbucks and william sonoma will be coming to ft. greene.
Instead of pushing these people out and forcing them to live in worse conditions, maybe the gov’t should be doing its job effectively managing education, housing and job readiness programs. Are there some people that live in public assistance housing deadbeats, yes. There are also countless others that do the jobs that need to get done in society that no one that reads this posting would dare do.
The gov’t and others didnt care about this community or these housing projects when its surroundings were poor. But now that its across the street from multi-million dollar homes, everyone wants these people to move…even though they have been there longer than anyone has.
A recent NY Sun editorial recommended simply giving away the NYCHA apartments to current residents. It argued that those who wanted to leave could sell theres and simply take the money, and those who stayed would have a vested interest in improving the quality of their housing. Of course this would involve charging maintenance fees which would no doubt be a source of debate. I am all for this program, it is the only way that this will be resolved and appease all sides.
Many a sociologist has concluded that the ghettoization of the poor is harmful. It’s also common sense.
12:12
Move everyone to the Atlantic Yards? We can only assume you jest.
BTW, I think the discussion(s) we’re having here are valuable. Simply saying “it’ll never happen in NYC…blah, blah, blah…” is not useful.
First of all, it already IS happening in NYC. NYCHA residents have been under the g*n for years.
Second, while Section 8 is being slashed away at and rents have reached ridiculous highs, no new public or simply affordable housing is being added. We’ve basically been seeing, and it seems we will see more of, “gluxury” (glut+luxury) “residences” being built (I think one ad I saw recently offered a new living experience in luxury. Apparently, they’ve got a concierge service that will provide an attendant to hand you toilet paper so you don’t have to tear sheets off the roll yourself.)
Signed,
FortGreene/GrammarLady
PS see 11:53, I kept it shorter…only a couple points made. 😉
I like the projects.
Montrose Meurice;
You speak of the lack of opportunities and choices. How then, do you acount for the millions of immigrants pouring into this city? We see them working in construction, hospitality, restaurants – willingly making a go at it, as others have done for the past 100 years. We see them buying homes in areas like Bensonhurst, Sunset Park and Canarsie- moving up the ladder.
On the other hand,projects have become nothing more than warehouses of the pathologies that result from outdated and failed government policies. Is initiative rewarded in this system? Absolutely not. They are isolated islands of pathologies within this city. They are not welcome in ANY neighborhood – rich, poor and anything in between. Show me one person in any neighborhood who is happy to be living near a project.
It is just a matter of time before they are gone. The federal government will no longer foot the bill, and other cities like Chicago and Newark have already gotten the message.
Benson
Move everyone to the Atlantic Yards