TESTIMONY
Testimony: David Gilchrist Testifies on Timberlake Terrace Project Support
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141 sec
David Gilchrist, a longtime resident of Community Board 11 and former director of Hope Community, expresses emphatic support for Timberlake Terrace during the testimony. Highlighting the critical need for affordable housing in East Harlem, Gilchrist outlines the project's aim to produce units for various household sizes. He commends the Lantern Group's initiative for community preference in 50% of the units, and the inclusion of the Afro Latin Jazz alliance, viewing it as a significant gain for the neighborhood.
Speaker 19
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My name is David Gilchrist.
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I'm a resident of Community Board 11 since 1999.
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And the former director of development at Hope Community from 1991 to 1995 where I helped build senior and low income family housing.
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Subsequently, I have worked for the corporation for support of housing and for the last 20 years served as the executive director of Project Fine, an elder services organization based in Manhattan Community Boards 457.
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I'd like to express my strong support for the Timberlake tariffs for the following reasons.
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First, the extreme shortage of affordable housing is one of the most critical challenges facing east Harlem as it dramatically affects the demographic composition of this historically working class neighborhood.
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And thus its very future.
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Without a doubt, it's become increasingly difficult for working class community members to find superior accommodations to them in this neighborhood.
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The lantern group's proposal produced 340 units of permanent affordable housing to households earning between 30 80% of area median income.
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The project will contain 1, 2, and even 3 bedroom units, making it relevant to household of a variety of sizes.
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And East Harlemites will receive key advantages over other applicants.
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The lantern group has negotiated with HPD, a community preference for 50% of the affordable units.
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Secondly, Timberlake Terrace will transform long standing vacant lots into a vital hub of urban life that will reinforce other development efforts along Park Avenue.
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The site has been vacant for years, making that stretch of Park Avenue more of a no man's land to be avoided than a community asset.
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The lantern group has a sound plan to reverse this dynamic.
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For starters, Once fully occupied, dimly terrace will house up to 600 people.
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Multiplying this effect will be the inclusion of a cultural powerhouse, the Afro Latin Jazz alliance, which brings its commitment to performance in public education, It's a huge win for East Harlem.
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This program will seed a new generation of musical That was fast.
Speaker 1
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Thank you so much.