10 reasons to oppose rezoning plans

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To the editor,

The city’s current housing proposal, Mandatory Inclusionary Housing, was presented to local community boards which had only an advisory say. The City Council and borough presidents will have the most impact on whether it succeeds. Here are my top 10 reasons to oppose it: 

1. The income levels are too low for the middle class, yet the market rates will be too high. The middle class is being priced out from both sides.  

2. Inclusionary housing only provides 20 to 30 percent of apartments at the lower income levels, with the remaining 70 to 80 percent at market rate. Essentially, 80 out of a 100 apartments will be market rate. Why not create 100 percent rent-regulated apartments (i.e. rent-stabilized), the real income equalizer. And with the rent-stabilized apartment, the senior and the disabled can freeze the rent.

3. Increased reliance on private for-profit developers to build senior housing rather than the private non-profits that are  required of Section 202 (HUD).

4. Circumventing the current approval process which takes the community’s needs into account. Shall we destroy every street in Riverdale like we did to Oxford Avenue and Tulfan Terrace?

5. Increased emphasis on ground floor commercial development, where leases will  certainly become too expensive for the mom and pop store.  

6. Reduced and possibly zero requirements for parking facilities in the senior buildings and others close to transit.

7. Senior buildings will be allowed to create apartments in the 250 square feet range. As one local politician so creatively asked, is that the size of a jail cell?

8. The undermining of many zones, especially in North Riverdale, to create tall, dense buildings along Broadway and Riverdale Avenue.

9. No plans to address the infrastructure needs that are already burdened, such as schools, fire stations and accessible transit.

10. Zero emphasis on home ownership which would certainly preserve the quality and character of many outer borough neighborhoods like Riverdale and Kingsbridge. 

Laura Liebman

Zoning for Quality and Affordability, Mandatory Inclusionary Housing, Laura Liebman

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