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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sally Greenspan, Former President of Council of Chelsea Block Associations
1:08:42
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136 sec
Sally Greenspan, former president of the Council of Chelsea Block Associations, provided testimony on the Western Rail Yards modification proposal. She acknowledged Related's efforts to improve housing numbers but expressed concerns about the specifics of the plan, including the exact number of housing units, affordability mix, and the potential inclusion of a casino.
- Questioned the meaning of "up to 4,000 units" and called for guarantees on housing commitments
- Requested more information on the mix of affordable, middle-income, and luxury housing
- Expressed skepticism about how a casino would fit into a residential community
Sally Greenspan
1:08:42
Good.
1:08:42
Okay.
1:08:43
So Sally Greenspan, former president of the Council of Chelsea Block Associations.
1:08:48
I'm gonna have to ad lib what I've prepared to say a little bit based on what I knew and what I know now, so bear with me if I'm repetitive.
1:08:56
First, I want to thank Related for revisiting the plan, figuring out financing and improving the housing numbers and making that effort, especially when they've been saying all along, it would be impossible to do that.
1:09:12
Well, the impossible has happened.
1:09:13
They have figured out a financing plan and there's a way to move forward.
1:09:18
I could not see the plan up there from where I was sitting, so I'm kind of starting in that direction from where I was before this presentation because I don't know what this new plan really looks like.
1:09:35
Related keeps saying up to 4,000 units of housing and I don't know what that means either.
1:09:41
What is the guarantee for related to meet the commitment and exactly what will that commitment be?
1:09:48
Is it 2,000?
1:09:50
Is it 3,500?
1:09:52
I don't know what up to 4,000 means.
1:09:55
And I think the housing needs to be considered first.
1:09:58
We don't want a repeat of some other disasters like Barclays Center where housing was promised and not built the way accordingly it was supposed to be.
1:10:07
I'd like to know more about the mix.
1:10:10
I know something was mentioned about the number of affordable, but the last number I heard was 324.
1:10:16
I think mister Blau corrected that, but I'm not sure what he said, what percentage would be affordable.
1:10:21
I now understand that some of it will be rental.
1:10:25
I don't know what the mix is for middle income, for low income, and for luxury, which I realize there will have to be some luxury.
1:10:35
And and with regard to the casino, I know it's not part of this, but I know it's it's still being considered.
1:10:42
And, I don't know how a casino fits in with a residential community.
1:10:46
As the president of my own block association and CCBA for a long time, I know that nobody wants to live on a block with the greatest restaurant or nightclub and certainly not a casino.