Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Improving the housing proposals with feedback on the appeals board and faith-based development
2:06:06
·
3 min
Commissioner Valerie White asks for feedback on the housing proposals from Barika Williams of ANHD and developer Jerrod Delaine.
Williams states that her organization is still developing specific recommendations for the composition of the appeals board but is concerned a three-person board could too easily become a new veto point.
Delaine suggests that a helpful addition to the proposals would be a specific carve-out to fast-track projects led by faith-based groups, who have a vested long-term interest in their communities.
- Williams is concerned that a three-person appeals board could simply shift the veto power from one place to another.
- Delaine advocates for creating a fast lane specifically for faith-based organizations, who often own land and have a long-term commitment to their neighborhoods.
Valerie White
2:06:06
Hi, Barika and Joao.
2:06:07
Good to see you both, and thank you for your testimony.
2:06:10
I'll start with my one question for Barika, and that has to do with the oversight board.
2:06:15
We heard a testimony earlier from, public Williams suggesting re you know, moving from three to five and who might be the members.
2:06:25
What would, you think would be a good composition to ensure fairness?
Barika Williams
2:06:31
So for once, I'm going to say we will get back to you.
2:06:36
We're we're trying to really be thoughtful and and get in your in our written comments, have some proposed solutions.
2:06:44
I think the concern with it only being three is that in a sense, we switch over from a council member, deference veto to a one person well, like, any time you can sway one to two of the three, you've basically gotten yourself back to a veto.
2:07:07
Right?
2:07:08
And then we also are very thoughtful, mindful, and cognizant of the fact that we have diverse communities that look very different and not wanting local politics to be played out in the guise of development.
2:07:27
A council member versus a BPA, right?
2:07:30
And that what we're manifesting is like a local political battle on the platform of an overall track or overall ELARP appeal.
Valerie White
2:07:44
K.
2:07:44
Great.
2:07:45
If yeah.
2:07:45
It would be great if you can get us something Yes.
2:07:47
You know, quickly on that.
2:07:48
Yep.
Barika Williams
2:07:49
We got through all 200 pages in the first week, so that's our
Valerie White
2:07:52
first accomplishment.
2:07:53
Wonderful.
2:07:54
Thank you.
2:07:54
And, Gerard, just a a quick question.
2:07:57
You know you know, I know you as a developer and a lot of work you, have done, and you explained, that story that you gave me is a scenario that many of us here that doesn't allow nonprofits as well as, you know, some smaller for profits or faith based institutions to go forward with affordable housing.
2:08:17
Are there any particular, items that you think we should be thinking about as we, you know, consider these questions or consider the the proposal?
2:08:28
Anything in the detail of what we're putting forth that you think we missed that would help elevate the ability to, have these affordable housing, units built?
Jerrod Delaine
2:08:40
So I just mentioned the faith based groups, so there's a lot of them.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
2:08:43
Right.
Jerrod Delaine
2:08:44
I think they they have a vested interest in these communities Yeah.
2:08:48
That they aren't just about the last dollar.
2:08:51
So that helps.
2:08:52
And as a developer, they have a longer horizon.
2:08:56
They have a lower land cost versus if you're buying it from a guy who has a parking lot.
2:09:00
He wants a top dollar to sell that parking lot to you and isn't so much vested in the long term health of the neighborhood.
2:09:08
So I think that would be a helpful carve out that if faith based groups could also be in a vast land.
Valerie White
2:09:15
They already have the land or the property.
Jerrod Delaine
2:09:17
Right.
2:09:17
They already have the land.
2:09:18
They're not paying taxes, and they have a longer horizon view of the neighborhood.
2:09:22
Like, they're not just selling it to you.
2:09:24
They actually plan on being around versus the guy who sells you the parking lot.
2:09:28
He's gone once he sells it to you.
2:09:30
So I think that's one important piece that we could add to the pie.
Valerie White
2:09:35
Great.
2:09:35
Thank you both.
Jerrod Delaine
2:09:36
Thank you.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
2:09:38
Thank you.
2:09:38
Any other questions?