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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ericka Keller from Brisa Builders Development on a fast-track ULURP for affordable projects
2:39:17
·
3 min
Ericka Keller, Managing Member of Brisa Builders Development which partners with faith-based and nonprofit groups, advocates for amending ULURP (Charter Chapters 8 & 9) to create an expedited process for projects proposing 100% affordability (defined broadly up to 165% AMI) or supportive housing.
She argues that if a project clearly meets predefined city housing goals, the review process should shift from potential rejection to collaborative problem-solving focused on implementation, rather than getting bogged down in localized opposition over details.
- Keller develops 100% affordable/mixed-use projects, often with faith-based partners.
- Proposes a specialized, faster ULURP track for projects meeting 100% affordable or supportive housing criteria.
- Defines 100% affordable broadly (up to 165% AMI) to encourage mixed-income communities.
- Argues meeting city goals upfront should shift ULURP focus from approval/rejection to collaborative implementation.
Ericka Keller
2:39:17
Greetings, Chairperson Barry, and to the Charter Commission.
2:39:22
Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak.
2:39:25
My name is Erica Keller.
2:39:26
I'm the managing member of BRISA Builders Development, a company formed in 2016 to develop affordable housing, 100% mixed use, specifically with faith based organizations and nonprofit organizations, grassroot organizations.
2:39:43
And so, this evening I'd like to speak specifically on chapters eight and nine regarding the EULIP process.
2:39:51
And I believe that there should be a fast track, so to say, or a special process for projects that are proposing 100% affordability or supportive housing.
2:40:06
And I want to define 100% affordability in that, from our perspective, 160165% of the AMI in New York City defines affordability.
2:40:22
So all the way down to shelter rents to 165 is technically affordability.
2:40:27
As I think it was Ms.
2:40:29
Abby was speaking to the fact that when you have non swimmers altogether, you will just produce non swimmers, Right?
2:40:36
And we are in New York City where there is such diversity in range and color, religion, economics, it's important to recognize because we are skewed so high that affordability should really be open to various incomes and various backgrounds.
2:40:53
And so if there is a focus on those developments that are proposing any of the term sheets from HPD or HCR that fast tracks the ULURP process where, on the front end, if they are defined as meeting the housing goals that have been established, then you have a city that is supporting what the agencies are saying or the support or the needs of the community based on what has been established by the data.
2:41:26
So if you say that the projects who are 100% supportive, again, meeting a varied definition for that in terms of what the city and the state define as such.
2:41:38
And you have those identified.
2:41:41
They go through the certification process where you are looking at what are the mitigants, what are the impacts that they're gonna have on the community.
2:41:50
And for those that are five or less, there is then a specific track that they're going towards that's fast tracked where there is community input.
2:42:02
Right?
2:42:02
You have the council member and the borough president and the community involved.
2:42:08
But it's more of a conversation and informative because you've already established that this project is going to support the stated needs of the overall city or the agencies in a whole.
2:42:20
So, therefore, it doesn't get boiled down to is there 18 parking spaces or 12 or five, but more about how is this going to support or advance the overall stated goals and what changes do we need to make in order to make it happen.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
2:42:36
Thank you so much.
2:42:37
Are there any questions for the panel?