Wanted to share my notes and article from my first community board meeting. Here it goes: COMMUNITY BOARD 3 STANDS FIRM IN PRESERVING BED STUY HERITAGE
Board Members Introduce Groundbreaking Guidelines for Affordable Housing
By: Keith L. Forest
Community Board 3, which represents Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant and Ocean Hill neighborhoods, held its monthly meeting on Monday, April 3. The well attended community forum, presided over by elected chairwomen, Beatrice P. Jones and Vice Chair, Ruben Pratt, professionally breezed through a variety of agenda items thoroughly informing attendees and guest of major issues concerning the community.
A major break through issue introduced at the meeting came from the Housing and Land/Use committee chaired by Doris Pinn, which presented a draft of its proposed Affordable Housing Development Policy. Taking a proactive stance after witnessing the negative effects gentrification is having on low income residence who continue to be out-priced in Harlem and other areas throughout the city, the committee seeks to encourage and promote home ownership amongst current residence via cooperatives and condos, while structuring developers in building economically feasible property that accents current property stock and improve quality of life and overall landscape of the community.
The document, which calls into question current and past government’s definition of affordable housing, firmly proposes that future projects meet the need of Bedford Stuyvesant’s residence. It seeks priority to those proposal in quest of Community Board approval that meets certain guidelines which includes an income and rent schedule based on the community’s Area Median Income (AMI); marketing efforts for future developments target Bedford Stuyvesant residence, which include lifelong renters, families and singles; that design elements include energy efficient units with accessibility for the physically challenged, green space, family friendly concepts; and that density and zoning adhere to standard setback rules and be historically contextual.
The document requires that all developers have a proven track record providing affordable housing to low income buyers and states that the board will not entertain any proposal which calls for a 100% special need housing. Community Board 3 encourages other New York City area boards to pass similar guidelines.
During the public hearing session, board member and head of the consumer service committee Hardy Joe Long, introduced via interpreters Spanish American restaurateur Maria Ahmed, owner of Acqua Clara Restaurant Corp., located at 744 Myrtle Ave; and Laura Cedillo, owner and operator of J and W Restaurant Corp at 654 Myrtle Avenue, along with Wayne Peters, who was representing Brooklyn Nites, located at 497 Dekalb Avenue, who were all seeking board letter of recommendations for liquor license. Board voted 26 to 6 for approval of Acqua Clara and 26 to 6 in favor of J&W. Brooklyn Knights, which failed to provide committee with adequate information as to actual use of the facility, received a 30 to 2 vote against approval of a letter.
The information presentation portion of the meeting included a presentation by Daniel Kass, Director of Environment Surveillance & Policy, who informed Bed Stuy resident of its high rate of pest and the unsafe and harmful use of legal and illegal pesticide such as foggers, Chinese Chalk, and aerosol sprays. Other presentations included announcement of the closing and modernization of the Macon Street Public Library; status on the construction of the Bedford YMCA; and update on summer bus program.
Community Board 3 meeting takes place the first Monday of every of every month at its Restoration Plaza offices. For additional information, please call (718) 622-6601.
Board Members Introduce Groundbreaking Guidelines for Affordable Housing
By: Keith L. Forest
Community Board 3, which represents Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant and Ocean Hill neighborhoods, held its monthly meeting on Monday, April 3. The well attended community forum, presided over by elected chairwomen, Beatrice P. Jones and Vice Chair, Ruben Pratt, professionally breezed through a variety of agenda items thoroughly informing attendees and guest of major issues concerning the community.
A major break through issue introduced at the meeting came from the Housing and Land/Use committee chaired by Doris Pinn, which presented a draft of its proposed Affordable Housing Development Policy. Taking a proactive stance after witnessing the negative effects gentrification is having on low income residence who continue to be out-priced in Harlem and other areas throughout the city, the committee seeks to encourage and promote home ownership amongst current residence via cooperatives and condos, while structuring developers in building economically feasible property that accents current property stock and improve quality of life and overall landscape of the community.
The document, which calls into question current and past government’s definition of affordable housing, firmly proposes that future projects meet the need of Bedford Stuyvesant’s residence. It seeks priority to those proposal in quest of Community Board approval that meets certain guidelines which includes an income and rent schedule based on the community’s Area Median Income (AMI); marketing efforts for future developments target Bedford Stuyvesant residence, which include lifelong renters, families and singles; that design elements include energy efficient units with accessibility for the physically challenged, green space, family friendly concepts; and that density and zoning adhere to standard setback rules and be historically contextual.
The document requires that all developers have a proven track record providing affordable housing to low income buyers and states that the board will not entertain any proposal which calls for a 100% special need housing. Community Board 3 encourages other New York City area boards to pass similar guidelines.
During the public hearing session, board member and head of the consumer service committee Hardy Joe Long, introduced via interpreters Spanish American restaurateur Maria Ahmed, owner of Acqua Clara Restaurant Corp., located at 744 Myrtle Ave; and Laura Cedillo, owner and operator of J and W Restaurant Corp at 654 Myrtle Avenue, along with Wayne Peters, who was representing Brooklyn Nites, located at 497 Dekalb Avenue, who were all seeking board letter of recommendations for liquor license. Board voted 26 to 6 for approval of Acqua Clara and 26 to 6 in favor of J&W. Brooklyn Knights, which failed to provide committee with adequate information as to actual use of the facility, received a 30 to 2 vote against approval of a letter.
The information presentation portion of the meeting included a presentation by Daniel Kass, Director of Environment Surveillance & Policy, who informed Bed Stuy resident of its high rate of pest and the unsafe and harmful use of legal and illegal pesticide such as foggers, Chinese Chalk, and aerosol sprays. Other presentations included announcement of the closing and modernization of the Macon Street Public Library; status on the construction of the Bedford YMCA; and update on summer bus program.
Community Board 3 meeting takes place the first Monday of every of every month at its Restoration Plaza offices. For additional information, please call (718) 622-6601.
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