PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kurtis Weatherford, Member of the Public, on 441/467 Prospect Avenue (Arrow Linen) Rezoning
3:48:52
ยท
117 sec
Kurtis Weatherford shared his personal experience with the housing shortage in Brooklyn, particularly in Windsor Terrace, and expressed support for the Prospect Avenue rezoning project. He emphasized the need for more housing in every neighborhood to address the city's housing crisis.
- Described his struggle to find affordable housing in Windsor Terrace due to high demand and limited supply
- Highlighted the importance of building more housing, especially in areas close to transit and parks
- Urged Council Member Hanif to support the Prospect Avenue rezoning, which would create over 200 new homes, including affordable units
Kurtis Weatherford
3:48:52
Hi.
3:48:53
My name is Curtis Weatherford.
3:48:54
And when I first moved to Brooklyn, I tried to move to Windsor Windsor Terrace.
3:48:57
I worked at a bakery at the time, and one of my coworkers who lived in the neighborhood raved about its convenient
UNKNOWN
3:49:03
access to the f train which also
Kurtis Weatherford
3:49:04
served the bakery and its proximity to Prospect Park.
3:49:06
I remember how devastating it was when I arrived to tour just listed place that was one of the few in the area I could afford only to find more than 50 people lined up outside.
3:49:15
Before getting in line, I stopped to buy a water bottle at the deli directly beneath the apartment.
3:49:19
The man behind the counter informed me that the massive line had been there for 2 consecutive days.
3:49:23
It's crazy, he said.
3:49:24
It didn't used to be like this.
3:49:26
When I got to the front of the line, I asked the broker how they would choose who got to rent the apartment.
3:49:31
She said what so many Brooklynites already know.
3:49:33
The landlord will probably pick the person with the highest income.
3:49:36
After that experience and many similar ones, including viewing a 2 bedroom apartment where the 2nd bedroom only fit a twin bed, I sadly had to give up on living in Windsor Terrace.
3:49:46
There's a massive shortage of housing in Brooklyn, especially in areas like Park Slope and Windsor Terrace that are close to transit and parks.
3:49:53
That shortage is making Brooklyn unaffordable for anyone but the wealthiest New Yorkers.
3:49:57
The Prospect Avenue rezoning would allow more than 200 new homes to be built in an area that has not created many homes and has created almost no new affordable homes in recent years.
3:50:07
We all know New York City is in the middle of a massive housing crisis brought on by a massive shortage of housing.
3:50:12
We should also be very clear about how we ended up with the shortage.
3:50:15
We caused it by by rejecting, shrinking, watering down, or otherwise preventing every new potential housing project over the course of decades.
3:50:24
To fix the shortage in an equitable way, we must build more housing in every neighborhood.
3:50:28
Approving this application is what that looks like.
3:50:31
Council member Hanif, I was thrilled to see you and several other council members support the much needed city of yes program late last year.
3:50:37
Now it's time to make good on the promise of building more housing in every neighborhood.
3:50:42
Please support the Prospect Avenue rezoning.
3:50:44
Brooklynites like me who have to spend most of our take home pay on ever increasing rents are depending on you.
3:50:49
Thank you.