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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Roberta Gratz from the Campaign for a Livable City on the loss of affordable units to new development
3:14:37
·
3 min
Roberta Gratz, representing the Campaign for a Livable City, testifies against the narrative that simply building more housing will solve the affordability crisis.
She provides examples of existing affordable housing being replaced by luxury towers with fewer total units, citing a net loss of affordable units in Manhattan despite new construction.
Gratz urges the commission to focus on preventing the loss of existing apartments, reiterating the call to require on-site replacement of demolished units in new developments.
Roberta Gratz
3:14:37
I am Roberta Brandesgratz, and it's a pleasure to join you today.
3:14:42
I've spent my entire career as an urbanist.
3:14:46
First as a newspaper reporter, author of six books, and a member of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
3:14:54
Tonight, I'm here on behalf of the Campaign for a Livable City.
3:14:58
We are a new initiative advocating for the balanced approach to planning and development that promotes responsible new development and ensures neighborhood continuity.
3:15:12
We are losing affordable housing at an alarming rate.
3:15:17
Existing affordable units are being torn down and replaced by towers with fewer units and few affordable.
3:15:27
The city is losing small apartment buildings and renovated tenements to buildings for the rich.
3:15:35
It's happening all over the city.
3:15:38
In Yorkville, Forty Three affordable units and four commercial units at 202 East 70 Fifth At Third were replaced with 38 units and no ground floor commercial.
3:15:55
Similar projects all over Yorkville.
3:15:58
In Harlem, a landlord was sent to jail after he nearly killed tenants tenants in an attempt to force them out so the rent stabilized units could be upgraded to luxury housing.
3:16:12
15 West 90 Sixth Street, a 321 foot tower with 21 condos, replaced three landmark quality five story townhouses with 30 rental units.
3:16:30
Height and density are not the same thing.
3:16:35
With all the new high rise towers all over Manhattan, for example, including the Supertalls, all 12 of Manhattan's community districts experienced a net loss of 37,466 affordable units between 02/2007 and 02/2020, and that's with the new units at Hudson Yards and the Upper West Side Waterfront.
3:17:05
So I'm here today to say we cannot just build our way out of this problem.
3:17:11
If demolition is necessary, then the replacement building should at least be required on-site to contain the same number of lost units.
3:17:26
This commission has a unique opportunity to prevent the diminution of existing number of apartments.
3:17:33
You can stand for affordability, preservation, and livability.
3:17:38
I thank you for your attention.