This city-owned land at Clarkson Street is supposed to be developed as an affordable housing complex with a new public recreation center at its base. But there have been consistent problems with multiple aspects of the plan, with community concerns and input frequently ignored.

Instead of supplementing a restored Tony Dapolito Recreation Center across the street as long promised, the new recreation center is being designed to entirely replace Dapolito, and as justification to demolish the landmarked beloved community fixture.

Instead of designing a lower, bulkier building with a contextual design that would relate to its surroundings as many in the community have called for, the plan is for a tall narrow 400 foot tall tower designed to look like a giant cheese grater.

Instead of providing details on the agreement that would ensure that the housing stays permanently affordable, the City and the developer have been unwilling to share any such information, and initial communications from the city about the affordable housing indicated much of it was only required to remain affordable for a limited period of time.

And the city’s chosen developer for the affordable housing, Camber, landed high up on the list of NYC’s “100 Worst Landlords,” and their track record on affordable housing they own, have built, or managed shows a troubling pattern that includes huge numbers of violations, serious and persistent tenant complaints, huge numbers of eviction proceedings, and even deadly fires.

Village Preservation is calling for all of these very serious issues to be addressed and key elements of the project to be re-thought.