Is East Harlem really that bad? (co-op, university, restaurant)

[Guywithacause]

JOGrant....these buildings typically have a FEW "affordable" units, the reality however is that the "affordable" units are not targeted towards the destitute, 3 generation welfare cases of the housing projects across the street. The reality is that they are targeted towards the less afluent, but not the poor..which is why you don't see those names.

Furthermore, there is an 'affordable" housing building across the street from me that is about 1/3 occupied for the last year (its been open for a year). They continue to have massive vacancies because the criteria for moving in is so stringent. They build the "affordable" housing, but the reality is, the people in the community are so destitute and uneducated, they do not have the measly income to qualify for the units. What is the result? This bulding remains 2/3 vacant...and will likely be that way for years, unless they adjust the criteria.

The same problem has occured in the Aurora. The building was originally an affordable luxury condo by lottery application only. They received TONS of applicants...but too few met the criteria! So instead of changing income requirements, they instead opened the condo up to the entire market (and not just the community members)....and now they are getting more interest..and yes they are selling.

[mead]

Yeah when the developers say affordable units, they generally require middle class salaries $40k - $80k. This disqualifies a lot of the people who are living in the PJs and pulling in $25k working at McDonalds or Duane Reade. They're looking for people more like bus drivers, cops, office workers, who while not pulling in tons of cash are not likely to ruin the value of their new condo buildings.

Originally Posted by Guywithacause

JOGrant....these buildings typically have a FEW "affordable" units, the reality however is that the "affordable" units are not targeted towards the destitute, 3 generation welfare cases of the housing projects across the street. The reality is that they are targeted towards the less afluent, but not the poor..which is why you don't see those names.

Furthermore, there is an 'affordable" housing building across the street from me that is about 1/3 occupied for the last year (its been open for a year). They continue to have massive vacancies because the criteria for moving in is so stringent. They build the "affordable" housing, but the reality is, the people in the community are so destitute and uneducated, they do not have the measly income to qualify for the units. What is the result? This bulding remains 2/3 vacant...and will likely be that way for years, unless they adjust the criteria.

The same problem has occured in the Aurora. The building was originally an affordable luxury condo by lottery application only. They received TONS of applicants...but too few met the criteria! So instead of changing income requirements, they instead opened the condo up to the entire market (and not just the community members)....and now they are getting more interest..and yes they are selling.

[mead]

Yeah thats way over the line.

[mead]

So you don't like white people moving into your neighborhood. Is it ok for white people to complain about non-whites moving into their neighborhoods?

Originally Posted by jogrant110

What I find so shocking is the fact a lot of these condo developers get all this tax abatements and I thought they were suppose to set aside a small fraction of the apts at a discount for the folks in the area to purchase at a deep discount.

I have yet to find anyone living in East Harlem to have won an apt in any of these lotteries. I've lived in East Harlem 35 yrs and I know a lot of the long time residents and they're not winning in these so called lotteries.

I've done an address check on these buildings once the address is officially posted with the Post Office and the folks living in these apts are named Feinberg, Holtzman, Katzenburg, Chang, Horowitz, O'Reiley, etc. I don't see no JOHNSONs, JACKSONs, SANTIAGOs or RIVERAs.

I believe if people in the community are moving in, then we need to see whose winning at these lotteries cuz if you ask me, I think it's all BS. I see the Aspen that's on First Avenue having vacant apts. I call the management office to inquire and am told they have no vacancies and the apt that appears to be vacant is set aside for low income household. ISH, I know a lot of low income folks that would love to be able to move up in there. They have the apt available and they're just leaving it completely empty and these low income folks ain't doing nuttin about it.

[SuperMario]

Guy and Rub it's her opinion. You guys are quick to jump on anybody that have different opinions than you. I dont think she should be banned. She is a resident of a community and would not like others moving in. I agree with her anyways. I don't see the problem with what she said, besides the way she went at it. Don't I have the same opinions? Want to ban me?

Lighten up yo two...sheesh.

[Rudbeckia]

Originally Posted by SuperMario

Guy and Rub it's her opinion. You guys are quick to jump on anybody that have different opinions than you. I dont think she should be banned. She is a resident of a community and would not like others moving in. I agree with her anyways. I don't see the problem with what she said, besides the way she went at it. Don't I have the same opinions? Want to ban me?

Lighten up yo two...sheesh.

You've got be kidding, given your opinion is one thing, bashing, ranting, attacking is another.

[Rudbeckia]

Do you really wish more people were like her? Do you hate white people that much?

[SuperMario]

Originally Posted by Rudbeckia

Do you really wish more people were like her? Do you hate white people that much?

I love white people. I think they are very decent people. Very polite and know what it takes to be succesful. I just dont like the moving into low-income hoods, gentrification part about them.

But I have nothing against them..AT ALL.

[crisp444]

But would you not care if professional "people of color" (to use a Guywithacause phrase) moved into your neighborhood and started doing the gentrifying? It's not really fair to say that gentrification = "white" people because this city is full of people of all colors and ethnicites that make good salaries and are thus potential "gentrifiers." Why is it a particular problem that "white" people make up the majority of the "gentrifiers" in certain areas?

[crisp444]

Originally Posted by chrissy2ya

And Yea "whites" Have Made Tremedous Amounts Of Heartache To People Of Color? Dont You Think There Wll Be Animosity? Hello???

What have "white" people done to you and "your community" in East Harlem? Maybe I wouldn't be asking you that if you were an Afro-Puerto Rican living on the island, but you are living in NYC, where Latin Americans have hardly received the discrimination that African Americans have received. Really, why do "white" people deserve animosity from your "community" ?