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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Joe Restuccia, Executive Director of Clinton Housing, on Western Rail Yards Modification Proposal
1:31:21
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126 sec
Joe Restuccia, a long-time resident of Hell's Kitchen and Executive Director of Clinton Housing, testified against the proposed modifications to the Western Rail Yards development. He emphasized the community's opposition to the plan, citing concerns about insufficient affordable housing, traffic problems, and the quality of proposed open spaces.
- Highlighted that only 7% (324 out of 4,000) of the proposed housing units would be affordable, which he deemed insufficient
- Criticized the environmental impact assessment, which stated that there could be no mitigation for traffic and noise issues
- Noted the unprecedented unity among community organizations from 14th to 57th Street in opposing the development plan
Joe Restuccia
1:31:21
My name is Joe Restuccia.
1:31:23
I'm a forty six year resident of Hell's Kitchen, Executive Director of Clinton Housing, not for profit housing developer.
1:31:28
I've been on community board four since 1982 and I'm a co chair of housing.
1:31:32
I was directly involved in the 02/2005 negotiations with Hudson Yards and the city council and the related and 02/2009 Western Rayards negotiation.
1:31:40
Our community board embraces density, major density, And we need a plan, not a press release three days before a public hearing.
1:31:49
The lack of housing production here has been stark.
1:31:53
The original plan did not limit the production to condos.
1:31:57
Related has taken that as a narrative saying you can't build condos.
1:32:00
And today, in noting that they wanna produce 4,000 units, of which 324 would be affordable, that's 7% affordability on a major site.
1:32:10
It's simply not sufficient.
1:32:13
They do simple things like say we're gonna elevate West 30 Third Street.
1:32:16
It's really to turn into a cul de sac for casino entrance for black cars to people get dropped off.
1:32:23
Traffic problems will happen in every development.
1:32:25
It's a matter of degree.
1:32:26
We rarely see environmental impact statements that say there can be no mitigation whatsoever of traffic.
1:32:32
There can be no mitigation whatsoever of noise.
1:32:35
In the open space and calling it constantly Bryant Park, if Bryant Park were surrounded and put in shadow for the entire summer.
1:32:44
That is not Bryant Park.
1:32:46
It is the quality of the open space.
1:32:48
It is not a cohesive, connected space, yes, but it'll be in the dark.
1:32:53
And I wanna note for the chair, in all my years in the West Side, I have never seen organizations from the entire community board, from Fourteenth Street to 50 Seventh Street, coming together to say no to something.
1:33:05
It doesn't happen.
1:33:06
We're very fractious.
1:33:07
We disagree about everything on the West Side.
1:33:09
And, you know, in 1986 is the last time our community board voted no on a development proposal.
1:33:17
And that was like a crazy little addition on top of a chocolate factory.
1:33:21
We are coming to you together with one voice saying no.
1:33:25
Please help us in this to move on to the next phase of this development.