TESTIMONY
Testimony: Maulin Mehta, New York Director, from Regional Plan Association, on Timberlake Terrace Housing
1:10:05
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128 sec
Maulin Mehta, the New York Director from the Regional Plan Association, testifies in support of the Timberlake Terrace project, highlighting the critical need for affordable housing in East Harlem. Mehta presents Timberlake Terrace as a model for sustainable, mixed-income development that addresses the city's housing crisis, referencing the recent housing and vacancy survey to underscore urgency. The project is praised for aligning with the East Harlem neighborhood plan and providing a 100% affordable housing solution.
Speaker 7
1:10:05
Good afternoon.
1:10:05
My name is Molly Mehta.
1:10:07
I'm New York Director at Regional Plan Association.
1:10:10
Thank you to Chair Hanks and all the members of the sub committee for the opportunity to testify today.
1:10:15
In support of the Tibali Terrace project.
1:10:18
The recently released 2023 housing and vacancy survey shows that our city has a 1% vacancy rate for affordable units across the city, which is the lowest vacancy rate in Half a century.
1:10:29
Moreover, we've estimated that our city and state will require over 800,000 new units of housing, in the next decade to meet current and future demand.
1:10:37
While Timberlake Terrace is a fraction of the need, it provides an incredible model of creating a sustainable mixed use and mixed income development that delivers on housing and community needs.
1:10:47
East Harlem is in real need of new affordable housing.
1:10:50
Real median gross rent has increased over 50% in 2006, and nearly half of all new development over the last decade was market rate.
1:10:58
The Tambali Terrace project creates tremendous opportunities by providing a 100 percent affordable housing development that would be accessible for households and families earning 30 to 80 percent AMI.
1:11:08
And it does this at a time when the community is seeing major investments helping to ensure that some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers are able to securely take advantage of these new opportunities.
1:11:17
More importantly, this project realizes goals from the East Harlem neighborhood plan to prioritize public sites for the creation of more affordable housing.
1:11:25
Too many communities work through exhaustive planning processes only to see few benefits realize.
1:11:30
Timali Terrace puts the community's vision into action and demonstrates to New Yorkers that the time and effort invested in community planning can deliver results.
1:11:38
By building this project on an NYPD parking lot, you can provide sustainable infill development, give housing and resources to vulnerable New Yorkers, and ensure they take advantage of the investment and opportunities that will that will be created in the years to come.
1:11:51
Model projects like this that serve vulnerable populations are really vital to moving our region forward.
1:11:57
Too many communities have enacted exclusionary policies just led to a current housing deficit.
1:12:03
We hope you'll improve this project encourage more communities to do their part in supporting New Yorkers in need of affordable housing.
1:12:10
Thank you for your time.
Speaker 1
1:12:11
Thank you so much.