Nostrand Park

From the Crown Heights Revitalization Movement:

FORUM ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Date: Thursday October 29th
 
Location: The Atrium at The Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, 520 Prospect Place (entrance is on Classon bet. Prospect and Park Places)
 
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Space is limited.  To assure space will be available for you, please RSVP to:  crownheightsrm@gmail.com

 

About the Forum:

On Thursday, October 29th The Crown Heights Revitalization Movement is sponsoring a panel discussion about how we might bring more affordable housing to North Crown Heights.  As many of you may know, there are several luxury housing projects in danger of failing in our neighborhood.  CHRM feels that we should get as many of these homes as possible, as well as other existing buildings that need extensive renovation, converted to affordable housing, with subsidies from the government as necessary and possible.  Assemblyman Hakim Jeffries has introduced legislation (bill #9136) that would create subsidies to do just that.  While the Assemblyman is unable to attend, he has offered to update CHRM on the contents of the legislation.  The full bill may be read at:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A09136
 
In a bigger sense, CHRM's fight against the Intake Center and the growing homeless problem will only be solved when the average family can afford the average home.  Many studies have shown that it is much cheaper to pay for affordable permanent housing than temporary homeless housing.  Even better if the housing is ownership housing, where the residents have a stake in maintaining the property.  If the housing is well-maintained, the government's investment is protected and the investor's return is greater.
 
All of the invited panelists have extensive experience in providing affordable housing.  Let's hear what they have to say about bringing more affordable housing to our neighborhood and how they might be able to use the Jeffries legislation to achieve that end.

Discussion Questions:

1.   What is affordable housing?
2. What do you see as the main reasons we don't have more affordable housing in New York?
3.   What can New York City and New York State do to encourage the creation of more affordable housing?
4.  What are the pros and cons of affordable ownership and affordable rentals?
5.  What has been your experience with the Section 8 Housing program?
6. Would it be possible to screen affordable housing candidates for financial responsibility, independent living skills and ability to contribute to the stability of the community? 
7. Why do you think the city spends so much on homeless housing when it's so much cheaper to build permanent housing?
8. Can derelict homes and buildings be converted to affordable housing?
9. Can already built empty developer buildings be converted to affordable housing?
10. Do you see "green" features as something that should be required in affordable housing projects?
11. What was your most successful affordable housing project?  What was your least successful?  Why?
12. What role can the community play in helping create more affordable housing?

 
Keynote speakers and panel members:

Tish James, keynote speaker
Karim Camara, keynote speaker
Mark W. Griffith, moderator
Adam Friedman, ED, Pratt Center for Community Development
Deborah Howard, ED, Pratt Area Community Council
Yahya Raji, ED, Brooklyn Neighborhood Improvement Assoc.
Robert Riggs, Sr. VP, Community Preservation Corporation

Ethel Tyus, Esq.   Counsel to Crown Heights North Asssocation, Inc. and member, Commuity Board