After structures at addresses 402, 404 and 406 Albee Square West were
targeted to be seized through eminent domain and converted into an acre
of public space and a parking lot, residents won a guarantee from the
city that residents would receive help them find new affordable housing
if they lost their homes.
But now they claim that the city is reneging on its end of the deal.
At a press conference outside Albee Square last month, Jennifer Levy,
South Brooklyn Legal Services housing attorney and Candace Carponter,
attorney and director of litigation for Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn,
accused the city, specifically the Department of Housing, Preservation
& Development (HPD), of failing to keep up with its end of a
bargain that was made more than a year-and-a-half ago.
They were joined by local residents and members of FUREE (Families United For Racial Economic Equality).
“The city is a slumlord,” said Wanda Imasuen, lead organizer for the
Downtown Brooklyn campaign at FUREE. “They’re saying the only
affordable housing is in East New York, not Downtown Brooklyn, where
these families have lived for years. They’re shoving them to the worst
areas.”
Imasuen pointed out that Downtown Brooklyn has several luxury
condominiums with numerous empty units that could be converted for
these families. She said that one woman who did accept the city’s offer
and moved to a new neighborhood was unhappy because it was a dangerous
neighborhood.
According to a source in city government, the agreement guaranteed
residents assistance with Section 8 applications and preference in
city-assisted affordable housing developments, but HPD did not and can
not guarantee to keep tenants in the neighborhood.
However, the tenants are that HPD employees are trying to evict tenants
without due process. Tenants claimed that they were threatened by HPD
with deportation or being forced into shelters.
Meanwhile, tenants are living in apartments that reportedly have molded
walls, detached sinks and, in one apartment, a steam pipe that spews
hot water from the ceiling.
“These people are still paying their rent and living in subhuman standards,” Imasuen said.
Levy sent a letter to the city’s legal counsel outlining “the atrocious
physical conditions” endured by the families including “ceilings that
have fallen in” and “non-working bathroom facilities.”
A lawsuit has not yet been filed, Levy said, but there will be one soon
if the situation doesn’t change.
“We’ve been working with the residents to assist them in finding
suitable relocation options since the city acquired the buildings
earlier this year,” responded Eric Bederman, spokesperson for HPD, who
said HPD is assisting tenants with Section 8 applications and keeping
them notified of lotteries for affordable housing developments.
South Brooklyn Legal Services is fighting to compel the City to keep its promise to help Albee Square residents obtain new affordable housing if they are evicted from their homes. The Brooklyn Eagle has been covering the story, including a press conference organized by Jennifer Levy, Interim Project Director at SBLS.