PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Suwen Cheong, Resident of Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn
6:41:11
·
126 sec
Suwen Cheong, a resident of Prospect Lefferts Gardens in Brooklyn, strongly opposes the City of Yes proposal. She argues against citywide upzoning, citing concerns about displacement, community preservation, and the belief that New York City faces an affordability crisis rather than a housing supply crisis.
- Calls for opposing R6 and R7 UAP density increases, warning of potential demolition and displacement in her district
- Argues that Brooklyn data shows more housing units correlate with higher rents, challenging the idea that increased supply improves affordability
- Contends that her community district has already built significant housing and has capacity for more under current zoning, negating the need for further upzoning
Suwen Cheong
6:41:11
Hi.
6:41:14
I'm a resident of Prospect Leffertz Gardens in Brooklyn, and I strongly oppose the city of Mes.
6:41:19
If city of Yassa is voted down, every district still has the right to pass those aspects of the amendments they like in their own districts.
6:41:25
The city council can still require housing targets for each district under the fair housing framework but allow every district to achieve this in the way they think is best.
6:41:33
In particular, I ask you to oppose the r 6 and r 7 UAP density increases because homes, small business, and even rent stabilized apartment buildings in two thirds of my district, and all over the city would be in danger of demolition or significant additions that would empty buildings.
6:41:48
We don't want this destruction and displacement.
6:41:50
We want to preserve our community in home so that families and seniors can remain.
6:41:54
If city planning is right, but only a small percentage of the possible development that could happen will actually occur Why are they proposing to upzone every lot in our district and the entire city?
6:42:05
At best, they are pushing random development, the opposite of why we have zoning and planning.
6:42:09
At worst, the entire city will be overwhelmed with millions of new residents.
6:42:13
Please oppose all other zoning density increases for market rate housing and without height caps.
6:42:18
For example, quality housing density bonuses in r 6, star 7 will be allowed without affordable housing and without the current height caps.
6:42:25
In Brooklyn, the data is clear that the more units community district built in the last 10 years, the more the rents went up.
6:42:31
Moreover, City Planning's own research shows that in the last century, New York City built more than enough housing about 2.45 million units to accommodate population growth, about 3,100,000 people.
6:42:41
We don't have a housing supply act crisis.
6:42:43
We have a housing affordability crisis.
6:42:45
My community district has built 4000 housing units since 2010, and we will continue to build 1000 of units, of which we know 800 will be low income affordable.
6:42:54
Council district 40 ranks 16th highest of all districts in terms of affordable housing production according to the New York Housing Conference.
6:43:01
Furthermore, over 25,000 units of buildable housing remain possible under the current zoning.
6:43:06
Therefore, there is no need for further broad based up zoning to create housing or affordable housing, there is a need for right zoning to preserve the stability and care.
UNKNOWN
6:43:13
Your time is expired.
Suwen Cheong
6:43:14
And ensure that population density does not overwhelm infrastructure.
