PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Scott Newman, Resident of Prospect Avenue, on Arrow Linen Rezoning
4:13:40
ยท
124 sec
Scott Newman, a long-time resident of Prospect Avenue, testifies in opposition to the Arrow Linen rezoning application. He argues that while affordable housing is needed, the proposed development is too tall for the neighborhood and suggests alternatives.
- Newman has lived on Prospect Avenue for 27 years and has personal experience providing affordable housing
- He argues that the proposed 7-9 story building is out of place in the neighborhood
- Newman suggests increasing the number of affordable units and reducing the building's height by expanding horizontally instead of vertically
Scott Newman
4:13:40
That's alright.
4:13:41
My name is Scott Newman.
4:13:43
I'm here to oppose the rezoning application for Arrow.
4:13:48
Like people on both sides of the argument, they have so many good points that housing is needed.
4:13:56
I drew up my notes, on the train ride in.
4:14:00
A lot of people have a typed out, testimony.
4:14:05
I have been a resident on Prospect Avenue, a block away from the development below it for 27 years, and in the neighborhood for 30.
4:14:16
I'm a musician and teacher, adjunct faculty member at a couple of colleges.
4:14:21
And I must say that even buying our property in 9 in 1997, Prospect Avenue was the one avenue we could afford to buy a house on.
4:14:31
And we bought it with friends.
4:14:33
We went in together on a 2 family house.
4:14:36
And we've had a tenant now in that house, because the other family moved out for 19 years, and we have kept her rent at 40% below market value.
4:14:47
I'm not looking for accolades.
4:14:48
I'm just saying I've we've contributed to affordable housing.
4:14:53
Arrow Linen is a big site.
4:14:56
There's no reason why this thing has to be this high.
4:15:02
Everybody keeps talking 7 to 9 stories.
4:15:04
It's because of the Bishop Boardman building at 1615 8th Avenue.
4:15:09
The next buildings that are that big that are near that big are down on 5th Avenue and 15th Street and then 4th Avenue where they're all 10 to 15 stories high.
4:15:18
So it's grossly out of place in our neighborhood on where as you could tell, people are are in favor of affordable housing, and we're counting on you to take into consideration that maybe the number the number should be brought up, of the amount of affordable units that could are in the in the building development.
4:15:40
And the and that the floor plan could come down and go out instead of up.