TESTIMONY
962 Pacific Street Rezoning: Testimony in Support from the Executive Director of 5th Avenue Committee
0:48:45
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158 sec
Michelle De Laus, the Executive Director of 5th Avenue Committee testifies in support of the 962 Pacific Street Rezoning.
She cites the applicant's willingness to build more affordable housing than is required under mandatory inclusionary housing, and to aim for deeper affordability.
Speaker 0
0:48:45
Starting with Michelle De Laus, could you please turn on your mic to testify?
Speaker 1
0:48:55
Michelle, if you could hear me, you can please begin.
Speaker 13
0:48:58
Great.
0:48:58
Thanks so much.
0:49:00
Chair and committee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify.
0:49:04
My name is Michelle Barossa, and I'm the executive director of 5th Avenue Committee, the 5th Avenue Committee, is a forty six year old nonprofit comprehensive committee development corporation whose mission is to advance economic, social, and racial justice.
0:49:18
I've also been a member of AIMA steering committee, the Atlantic Avenue mixed use plant steering committee.
0:49:24
Yeah.
0:49:25
And I'm here today to testify in support of 962 Pacific Street.
0:49:30
And in particular, Fifth Avenue Committee would like to work with Council member Hudson and the Oldsner's to get to a yes on this project as Council, Richard Lebel, noted that open openers have offered to do a community benefits agreement to memorialize the commitments that go beyond what is required under mandatory inclusionary housing.
0:49:57
They've offered to increase the total number of affordable housing units in in the communication to community board 8.
0:50:08
They offered to go to 32% affordable overall.
0:50:14
Obviously, 7% more than what is required under NIH option 1 and also committed to deeper affordability.
0:50:23
Which I think is particularly important given the displacement that was mentioned earlier and is very much has been present for a number of years.
0:50:34
So and and I know one of the questions that the chair asked and was really about how is this project differ than what is proposed under the Atlantic Avenue next use plan?
0:50:46
And I'll just say that in particular, that the commitment to go into a higher percent of overall affordability and a deeper affordability is something that could not be achieved if we wait for AMU.
0:51:00
Because any basically, NIH any changes to NIH would require citywide text amendment.
0:51:07
And, obviously, AML is not including request citywide text amendment to change the affordability levels.
0:51:14
So I'm I'm hoping that the committee will vote in favor and happy to answer any questions.
Speaker 1
0:51:21
Thank you, Michelle.
