Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Issues with Bedford Gardens Mitchell-Lama development
1:49:05
ยท
4 min
Council Member Restler raises concerns about the Bedford Gardens Mitchell-Lama development, where significant rent increases and potential evictions are threatening residents. Commissioner Tigani discusses potential solutions and challenges.
- The owner initially proposed 80+% rent increases, negotiated down to 8+% over multiple years
- 80 tenants are now facing potential eviction
- Challenges include overhoused tenants and differences between Section 8 and Section 9 housing rules
- Tigani mentions the possibility of using NYCHA project-based vouchers and exploring flexible solutions
- Restler expresses frustration with the potential loss of affordable housing despite previous negotiations and allocation of Section 8 vouchers
Lincoln Restler
1:49:05
So I am gonna bother you now about a site in my district that we've had some tense conversations before, which is Bedford Gardens.
1:49:16
So this is a 600 plus unit Mitchell Lama development that the owner proposed 80 plus percent rent increases.
1:49:26
HPD helped negotiate down to eight plus percent rent increase over a multi year period.
1:49:33
And now the owner is proceeding with 80 tenants that they're trying
Ahmed Tigani
1:49:39
to
Lincoln Restler
1:49:39
evict.
1:49:42
And I'm just devastated.
1:49:45
We're trying to connect every last one of them to legal services.
1:49:49
There's a variety of different reasons that they're pursuing eviction proceedings, but this kind of scale is just heartbreaking, and we really need help.
1:50:01
So, you know, firstly, I know we always get into two conversations with NYCHA about what to do with overhouse tenants.
1:50:11
But in a situation like this where you have a hundred year old woman who's in a two bedroom apartment, and she's facing a rent increase that's so extreme she can't pay it and is now at risk of eviction.
1:50:26
What can HPD do to help?
Ahmed Tigani
1:50:28
So two things.
1:50:30
If in addition to the fine you know, in addition to those negotiations, there were vouchers that were provided through the NYCHA project based voucher RFP.
1:50:40
So if that individual is connected to a voucher in that way, there's a different set of pre termination and eviction prevention tools that is built within the Section A program.
1:50:53
Again, if the overhouse status has to do with their voucher status versus the housing company rule status, those are two different strategies.
Lincoln Restler
1:51:03
We have both challenges.
1:51:03
In
Ahmed Tigani
1:51:05
the voucher situation, there are certain rules just having to do with the fact that it's a federal voucher.
1:51:12
There are payment and household standards that need to be evaluated.
1:51:17
That's how you get your voucher standard and your payment standard.
1:51:19
And violating those rules may be outside the public housing authority, the PHA's hands.
1:51:26
But we go we find flexible ways around those rules as necessary in On the federal side
Lincoln Restler
1:51:32
with section nine housing every day.
1:51:35
Right?
1:51:35
Why is why is there such a a radical difference here that people are gonna be kicked out a hundred year old woman's gonna get kicked out on the street in this situation, but in the Section 9 development across the street, we look the other way and allow that elderly lady to stay in her home because it's too challenging for her to move.
Ahmed Tigani
1:51:51
I can't speak for the Section 9.
1:51:52
The other thing that usually comes up, and this is something going back to sequestration when this was the right sizing piece was part of those budget cuts.
1:52:05
There is sometimes a way to have it be limited to whether there are units of the appropriate size available in the unit before a transfer happens.
1:52:14
Again, without knowing the specific situation, it's hard to figure out what the right remedy would be, I would say section nine and section eight are different programs.
1:52:24
With the section eight piece there are specific regulations around both what the voucher payment is related to the family composition behind the voucher that's issued.
1:52:36
And so we're happy I I know that you've been in some conversation with the team.
1:52:41
I don't have all the details, but I can go back and come back to have a more detailed conversation with you about it.
Lincoln Restler
1:52:45
Yeah.
1:52:46
I I mean, I just feel like you all put a healthy amount of energy and effort and time and resources into negotiations with Krausz to try to limit extreme rent increases to more to less extreme rent increases.
1:53:05
And NYCHA leadership put a great deal of time and effort and energy to put Bedford Gardens at the top of the list in terms of allocating new section eight vouchers.
1:53:15
And now we're about to see all of that hard work basically go up in smoke because we're gonna see every sixth tenant in the development kicked out.
1:53:26
And I don't think that's the outcome that you want.
1:53:28
I don't think it's the outcome that NYCHA wants.
1:53:30
Certainly not the outcome that me and every elected official representing the South Williamsburg community wants or the residents want, and we just need some help in figuring out how to push back more effectively against Krausz to keep neighbors in their homes.
Ahmed Tigani
1:53:41
We can follow-up with you on that.
Lincoln Restler
1:53:43
Thank you very much, commissioner.