PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Damien Andrade, Member of Brooklyn Community Board 7, on Arrow Linen Rezoning
3:42:52
ยท
131 sec
Damien Andrade, a member of Brooklyn Community Board 7 and lifelong resident of Sunset Park, opposes the Arrow Linen rezoning application. He argues that the proposed development is unaffordable for working-class families and will accelerate displacement and gentrification in South Brooklyn.
- Andrade criticizes the affordability levels, stating that most units are for households earning $83,000-$111,000, which is out of reach for many local residents.
- He expresses concern that only 24 out of 244 units are reserved at 40% AMI, which still doesn't meet the needs of retail workers, essential employees, or students.
- Andrade calls for deeper affordability (20-30% AMI) and urges the council to vote against the project to protect neighborhoods from gentrification.
Damien Andrade
3:42:52
Good evening, Chair Riley and council member Hanif.
3:42:55
My name is Damian.
3:42:56
I am a proud member of community board 7, though I do not represent CBC.
3:43:01
A student at Brooklyn College studying political science and a renter, a rent a retail worker, and a lifelong resident of Sunset Park.
3:43:08
I stand with my neighbors and fellow working class families in opposing the application as submitted for Arrowlin and rezoning and have it no more than 7 stories.
3:43:16
While this project is in is located in Windsor well, while this project is in Windsor Terrace, approving unaffordable developments like this sets a dangerous precedent for neighborhoods like Sunset Park.
3:43:28
Developers are already targeting our community with so called affordable projects that working class families cannot afford.
3:43:35
If we allow this to move forward, it sends a clear message that massive, unaffordable towers are welcome in South Brooklyn, accelerating displacement and gentrification.
3:43:45
The the developers of this project claim to be affordable, but most of these units are household are are for household earnings between $83,000 $111,000, far out of reach
Gabriel Rich
3:43:59
far out of
Damien Andrade
3:43:59
reach for the nearly 18,000 residents in community board 7 who make less than $60,000 a year according to Data USA.
3:44:07
Worse, a 187 of these 244 units will be market rate with rent as high as $4,000 per month.
3:44:14
Only 24 of these units are reserved at 40% AMI, and even those don't meet the needs of retail workers, essential employees, or students like me.
3:44:24
Gentrification already has displaced so many working class families and young people in our neighborhood.
3:44:29
These developments bring higher rents, drive out small businesses, and erase the culture and diversity that makes our communities unique.
3:44:37
We need housing that prioritize deeper affordability, like 20 to 30 percent AMI, and push for the medium, mandatory inclusion housing to be at least 60% for those who are earning less than $40,000 per year and ensure that young people and working class families, can afford to stay.
3:44:54
This is not about one project.
3:44:55
It's about protecting our neighborhoods and demanding community based developments that puts people before profits, and I urge you guys to vote no.
3:45:02
Thank you.
3:45:03
Thank you.