PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Will Spisak, Senior Program Associate at New Economy Project, on Third Party Transfer Program Reform
2:27:31
·
150 sec
Will Spisak from New Economy Project testified on proposed reforms to NYC's Third Party Transfer (TPT) program, emphasizing the need for broader building selection criteria and prioritization of community land trusts (CLTs) and nonprofits in property transfers.
- Advocated for including all qualifying financially and physically distressed properties in the program, rather than limiting it to the 500 worst buildings
- Stressed the importance of including vacant and commercial properties in the program, highlighting opportunities for CLTs to develop housing and community spaces
- Suggested strengthening language to prioritize CLTs, nonprofits, and tenant ownership over for-profit developers in property transfers
- Proposed involving CLTs as supporting organizations in tenant ownership pathways, facilitating education and collaboration for potential co-op conversions
Will Spisak
2:27:31
This is on.
2:27:33
Okay.
2:27:36
Yeah.
2:27:36
Good afternoon.
2:27:38
Chair Sanchez and members of the housing committee.
2:27:42
So glad to go after Paula, so I could just pretty much say ditto and everything.
2:27:47
But, yes, my name is Will, Speese, I'm a senior program associate at new economy project or city wide economic justice organization.
2:27:56
We are the cofounders and facilitators of the New York City Community Land Initiative are NICELY, which is the city wide coalition of Community Land Trust.
2:28:05
And we are members of the abolishment taxing sale coalition, which I apologize represented our views.
2:28:13
So I'm not going to repeat everything Paul just said or or, you know, go into too much detail.
2:28:20
We will be submitting our own written testimony Just a few things we wanna highlight in addition or to echo what the abolishment sale coalition testimony said.
2:28:34
On building selection, you know, just again echoing Paula, We think that, you know, kind of restricting the program to the worst 500 buildings in the city is arbitrary and and unnecessary.
2:28:45
And we would like to see all properties that qualify based on certain criteria of financially and physically distressed properties be included in the program.
2:28:54
The inclusion of vacant and commercial properties in the program is really important for us.
2:29:00
So task class 4 properties, you know, present unique opportunities for COTs that can acquire vacant lots to build housing or other community needs on them and potentially convert other properties into community centers or community spaces to support local businesses, which many COTs are currently working on.
2:29:19
Again, preference for nonprofits and CLTs is really important in the bill.
2:29:24
So we would like to see, you know, stronger language that prioritizes CLTs and nonprofits and tan ownership as opposed to for profit developers.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
2:29:37
Would you like to wrap?
Will Spisak
2:29:39
Yeah.
2:29:40
Last point is, you know, we also think that in regard to pathways for tan ownership that COTs could play an important role as supporting organizations.
2:29:50
So we would love to see the, you know, tan ownership pathway include opportunities for education and collaboration.
2:29:57
Between potential co op conversions and community land trusts in the area.
