PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Anna Barrett Mitchell, Lifelong Resident of Dimas Park Flatbush Area
3:39:28
·
126 sec
Anna Barrett Mitchell, a lifelong resident of the Dimas Park Flatbush area, testifies against the proposed zoning changes, particularly the construction of large complexes in residential areas. She argues that recent development has led to gentrification and increased rents, rather than improved affordability.
- Mitchell supports affordable housing but opposes large complexes that exacerbate existing community problems.
- She highlights concerns about gridlock, parking issues, and dangerous intersections resulting from recent development.
- Mitchell advocates for building affordable housing units on main streets with parking included, rather than in residential areas.
Anna Barrett Mitchell
3:39:28
My name is Anna Barrett Mitchell, and I'm a lifelong resident of the Dimas Park Flatbush area.
3:39:32
I would like to preface this by saying I am not against affordable housing units in my area.
3:39:36
What I am vehemently against is building large complexes in areas that would only serve to exacerbate the problems that my community is already facing.
3:39:44
And immediately place residents into untenable situations.
3:39:48
Over 2300 units have been placed in this area over the past 10 years, 500 of which were built in the past year, and a vast majority, if not all of which were not affordable, but were categorized as luxury, a PARTMENTS.
3:40:00
THE RENT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DID NOT GO DOWN DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF HOUSING UNITS.
3:40:04
IN FACT, IT IS SKYROCKETED.
3:40:06
THAT IS NOT PROGRESS.
3:40:07
THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF SAY IT WITH ME JENTRIFICATION.
3:40:10
IT IS A GIVEWAY TO DEVELOPERS.
3:40:12
As of now, an eleven story building is under construction and a fourteen story building is soon to be rebuilt on the main intersection of Beverly Road in Kony Island Avenue.
3:40:20
Kony Island Avenue And Church Avenue are commercial streets containing several empty lots and a lap dated buildings, and therefore developing on those main strips makes perfect sense.
3:40:29
However, putting large apartment buildings directly on Beverly Road and other residential streets in a historic neighborhood with no parking units would be Bedlam.
3:40:37
In the past decade, the streets have become completely gridlocked.
3:40:40
It has become impossible to find parking, and the intersections have become extremely dangerous.
3:40:45
The corner of Beverly Road in Westminster was already deemed to be too congested and dangerous for a city bike rack.
3:40:51
So it flies in the phase of reason to put a five story building there, especially considering that only 20% of the units would be affordable while the other 80% would be once again luxury housing units.
3:41:03
The one hundred and twenty year old residential streets were simply not built to accommodate such a large amount of people, especially if you do away with parking mandates.
3:41:12
Just because a housing unit is placed near a train station does not mean that all the residents of that building will agree to not own cars.
3:41:19
I fully support affordable housing in Flatbush and addressing the housing crisis that we all face.
3:41:24
All I ask is that we do it in such a way that makes sense and works for everyone.
3:41:28
I beseech you to build predominantly affordable housing units on the main streets and to include parking units.
3:41:33
The defense rest.
Kevin C. Riley
3:41:34
Thank you.
