Mayor de Blasio's plan to rezone neighborhoods in an effort to create more affordable housing is off to a bad start.  Protests by residents in Manhattan's Inwood neighborhood led to the City Council voting down Sherman Plaza, the first development trying to use Mandatory Inclusionary Housing.  Then earlier this month, opposition in Sunnyside, Queens killed a proposed development with 209 units on Barnett Avenue.  So, is the Bronx next?  Hundreds of residents there marched yesterday before a Department of City Planning meeting to discuss rezoning the Jerome Avenue corridor.  Residents want the plan to "benefit the community through safe, career-track jobs, local hire, deep affordability and anti-displacement protections."  Mayor de Blasio has said that community opposition "makes no sense" and is "bad for our city."  What do you say?  Should Bronx residents reject Mayor de Blasio's plan to allow developers to build taller structures that include some affordable housing?  Are you pleased or disappointed in the defeat of the project in Sunnyside, Queens?  Why do you think so many New Yorkers oppose a plan that the Mayor feels will address the negative effects of rising rents and gentrifying neighborhoods? 

 

John Schiumo's Thoughts 

Mayor de Blasio's response to the defeat of Sherman Plaza in Manhattan was to call residents "misinformed."  He called the opposition in Sunnyside, Queens "bad for our city."  Now, residents in the Bronx are gearing up for a fight.  The Mayor and his team are losing these early battles.  A change in tone is needed to win the war. 

 

Your Thoughts  

I dont see anything wrong in building or re-zoning to alleviate homeless families & homelessness for low income housing in neighborhoods.

Travonne of Marble Hill

 

While it's true that greedy landlords try to squeeze every dollar, it has to be borne in mind that all NYC neighborhoods go through cycles.  In the early part of the 20th Century, the Bronx and Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan had many neighborhoods that comprised middle-class Jewish, Irish and Italian residents who were driven out by slumification as poor and uneducated people poured in and lowered the tone and the property values.  Many will call me racist, but it just is a fact.

Frances, East Village

 

Deblasio is not helping the  people who need the affordable housing the most the income levels are not for people making minimum wage or people living off social security currently there are more people living in shelters then there was a year ago  for the people who don't meet the income levels for affordable housing need a rental assistance program so they don't end up homeless

Jay from bx

 

THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH !!!!

MARIO. OZONE PK.

 

The restrictions for HDFCs are not stringent. Some shareholders are selling them at prices that are beyond affordable, based on the income guidelines. That's where the problem is. It's supposed to be designed for low and moderate income people. You can't sell the shares at prices that low and moderate income can't afford.  Also, moving to Yonkers and Bronxville means moving out of city limits.

Flora, Washington Heights

 

I am fed up with what is happening, not just in East Harlem, but in all boroughs. I am sure I am not alone. REZONING is not good.  Buildings going up everywhere, but not for the residents that live here!!

Linda, East Harlem