In the May 6 town hall hosted by the cooper square community Land Trust, Community, politicians, and activists came together in hopes of informing and discussing the disinvestment of religious owned properties in regards to affordable housing. Many offices were present, and their representatives passionate, community leaders and urban scholars equally so, however, the Catholic church through its actions, or lack thereof, seems to be focused on financial gains than the communal. This Townhall seemed to be the precursor to greater communal activation and resistance.
The gathering of not only community board 3 residents but concerned citizens from all parts of New York, Little Italy to East Harlem, represent the constant urban crises of maintaining affordability as a communal priority in the face of economic ‘growth’. The meeting was focused on creating greater awareness of the duality of the historic responsibly of religious owned property and the lack of democratic say in the development of these neighborhood landmarks.
The town hall began with representatives from the Catholic worker bringing up the subject of, “what if religious houses were sold for luxury developments.”. Their cause for concerns was the ludicrous amount of religious properties around Manhatten that are now entering the economic market and in many ways negatively transforming/developing communities which they once held the responsibility to maintain. Of 135 religious properties in and around the East Village (community board 3), The Catholic worker is trying to create a greater understanding of the contemporary dangers for communities as historic landmarks and properties are converted to private capital projects without communal agreement or participation.
Representatives from the Catholic worker focused on the history of these religious properties integrating with the contemporary market rate or luxury housing and the social and financial ramifications to residing lower-income tenants. The guiding question and focus for the group was the historic use of many these sacred sites as ‘safe havens’ and the responsibly of communal partnership the organizations following through on their maxims.
Professor Amato then took the stage and spoke of the Urban Democracy Lab as well as the greater conversation taking place at international levels and the subsequent global recognition the work in new york has been garnering in the discussion of communal land use. In their contention what the Catholic church Becky also brought up the importance of non-profits like the Saint Joseph Cannon Law Consultants from Ohio, they had relied on in working with Catholic policy makers. This subject was met with great enthusiasm and would later gain an Italian connection for a Roman cannon non-profit form a cooperative activist in community board 2 (little Italy).
Having set the scene the meeting then turned to Steve Harrick, Executive Director of Cooper square committee who spoke on behalf of the CSC’s historic and effort in fighting off private speculators on local properties and their current measures in preventing buyouts. Calling attention to the various means in which landowners have been using to pressure and generally harass previous tenants. Actions like renovations lasting years and causing air pollutants to the ridiculousness of the majority of tenants laws expiring June 15. These points serve to highlight the dire and precarious nature of New York’s residential protections and the need for greater communal representation and participation in pressuring policy amelioration for permanent solutions.
Building off the momentum of Mr. Harrick’s push to Albany, Julien Lorenza of Goals NYU spoke of issues in the privatizing of affordable housing, as is the case with the NCCHA housing, and the potential for St Emmericks 300,000 Sq Ft.
A representative from Councilmen Riviera’s Office spoke of the importance of passing community opportunity purchase policy that allows community-based developers first right to develop land (to propose to develop the land) and would be intrinsic to the new CLTs they are hoping to form in new york. This policy would fund 1 million dollars to be spent on the creation and streamlining of new and existing CLTs in hopes of creating greater affordable consciousness within property ownership.
Though countering this optimism, representatives for the little Italy neighbors association spoke of the gentrification issues they are facing with higher-end bars and restaurants seeking to gain a foothold in a historic area. The building of this pointed form a speaker form Harlem talking about how even ‘affordable housing’ according to market rates could be from 100% 180% inc comparison to existing units. completely skewing the areas AMi in favor of the market. This coupled with the fact that many of the Methodists churches in the area now being put on the market brought a far too similar case happening around the city. As such the discussion taking place in this town hall was of universal importance.
In regards to solutions, an energetic Mr. Delgato spoke of selling air rights and potentials of not allowing the property to be constructed upon or remaining commercial values; however, as the town hall committee commented, the problem is that bonuses to affordability are innately voluntary and are bypassed more often than for greater profits. The rep from Councilman Riveria in response also commented on the issue, he spoke of putting greater attention on issues of affordability in housing in existing buildings rather than focusing on new forms of development. His big issue is the definition of affordability in relation to surveys and AMI. Tha there is an innate survey bias that many people of lower income have been statistically proven to not partake in such surveys.
The example of churches being sold off today is one of private interest, trumping communal values. Overall, I was blown away by the amount of community representation and the optimism in the fight for sustainable, perpetual, affordable housing. I truly believe if a change is to take place it is by going to placing like Albany en masse and championing individual rights over developers interests. However, the fact that the church didn’t send any representatives was rather disappointing and perhaps is just another example of money trumping morality.
Thanks for this summary, Philippe, and sorry I did not see you in the crowd!