PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Charles Ober, Vice President of Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association
13:55:56
·
122 sec
Charles Ober, representing the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association and Queens Civic Congress, argues against the City of Yes proposal, stating it is not a solution for affordable housing. He describes Ridgewood as a high-density neighborhood where affordable housing has decreased due to developer pressure.
- Ober reports that property owners in Ridgewood are receiving increased offers from developers and equity companies to sell their properties since the City of Yes proposal.
- He outlines how the proposal would allow for increased density in existing buildings (e.g., 2 family houses becoming 4 family).
- Ober expresses concern that the proposal will lead to the demolition of existing buildings to be replaced by larger structures, without necessarily increasing affordability.
Charles Ober
13:55:56
Hi.
13:55:56
Am I am I unmuted now?
Kevin C. Riley
13:55:58
Yeah.
13:55:58
We finally got you Charles.
13:55:59
There you go.
13:56:01
Go ahead.
Charles Ober
13:56:02
I'm sorry.
13:56:03
I even changed computers trying to get
Kevin C. Riley
13:56:05
this okay.
Charles Ober
13:56:06
Again, Charles Uber.
13:56:09
I'm a vice president of the regional Property Owners And Civic Association.
13:56:12
I'm also a vice president of the Queen Civic Congress.
13:56:17
I serve on community board 5.
13:56:19
I can speak forward regional property owners and and the Queen's to the Congress.
13:56:28
But no.
13:56:32
The city of yes is not a proposal for affordable housing.
13:56:37
We actually do support In Midwood Queens, we are a high density neighborhood of 80,000 residents with 2, 3, 4, 5, 12 unit buildings, 20 unit buildings.
13:56:53
We did have a very substantial number of rent stabilized apartments who have been pushed out by developers.
13:57:03
So the number of affordable housing has dropped tremendously.
13:57:08
However, our members rent to tenants that they've had for many years and charge affordable rent.
13:57:17
We are now getting inundated by offers from developers and equity companies to sell out our properties.
13:57:26
And it's obviously gone way up since this city of US proposal.
13:57:31
2 family houses can now become for family.
13:57:37
3 families can become 6 family.
13:57:40
6 six units can become 12.
13:57:43
Frame buildings that are underutilized can be torn down, and 5 and 6 story buildings can be built.
13:57:50
But money goes to money.
13:57:53
Development President
UNKNOWN
13:57:53
Thank you.
13:57:54
Your time's expired.
Charles Ober
13:57:55
Okay.
13:57:57
Thank you.
