PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Roberta Gelb, President of Chelsea Reform Democratic Club
11:44:33
·
125 sec
Roberta Gelb, speaking as the president of the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, criticizes the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity (CHO) proposal. She argues that the city could immediately create affordable housing by penalizing landlords who warehouse rent-stabilized apartments and questions the effectiveness of converting commercial buildings to residential use.
- Claims there are 26,000 rent-regulated units being warehoused, citing City Limits
- Criticizes the conversion of Saint Vincent's Hospital to luxury condos as an example of ineffective housing policy
- Argues that residential conversion of office towers will not benefit the public or create affordable housing
- Expresses skepticism about developers voluntarily providing affordable housing without mandates
Roberta Gelb
11:44:33
Hi there.
11:44:34
It's Roberto Glab, and I'm speaking as a president of the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club in Chelsea Manhattan.
11:44:40
Although I feel akin to so many of the people who spoke from the out of boroughs, and I feel like we have so many issues in common.
11:44:48
After those things that we don't have in common, we're on the same page.
11:44:52
I think the emperor is naked.
11:44:54
Somebody has to really say that The emperor is naked.
11:44:57
Tomorrow, I could have 26,000 affordable apartments.
11:45:02
How?
11:45:02
Because we need to make a penalty for the landlords who are warehousing, affordable rent stabilized apartments.
11:45:12
I know we have some in my building.
11:45:14
Is anybody going out and finding out how many of those apartments are there already, but is anybody being penalized to that.
11:45:23
City limits estimates that there's 26,000 rent regulated units that are being warehoused.
11:45:29
We know that there are apartments being warehoused in nature.
11:45:32
Now let's talk about the conversion of commercial buildings.
11:45:36
Greenwich village got a lot of additional housing.
11:45:39
When Saint Vincent's Hospital, the only level 1 trauma center on the west side was replaced with housing.
11:45:46
I checked today, and there are 2 condos apart 2 condo apartments available.
11:45:52
In that conflict.
11:45:53
1 for 6,750,000, and the other for 8,250,000.
11:45:59
Go there go pass there any night and notice how few lights are on.
11:46:03
Residential conversion, this new opportunity to to convert office towers will be no benefit to the public, no affordable housing.
11:46:15
Do we really need $6,000,000 condos?
11:46:18
And why does anybody think that developers, out of the goodness of their hearts, are gonna provide affordable housing?
11:46:25
They are asking people, there is no mandated affordability in this plan.
11:46:31
If you think that the developers are gonna do it, you are all
Kevin C. Riley
11:46:35
Time expired.
Roberta Gelb
11:46:37
Thank you.
