Last night CB3's economic development committee was briefed on three major neighborhood development projects:
- 710 East 9th Street: Loisaida, University Settlement and Phipps Houses
are collaborating on housing for young adults (18-24), who have aged
out of foster care or are homeless. There will also be a community
center in the building. City Councilmember Rosie Mendez came to the
meeting to express her support.
- 302 East 2nd Street: a 161-unit rental apartment building near Avenue D & Houston (see map). There will be at least 34 permanently affordable units in the development (or 20-percent), and 9-thousand feet of commercial space. A "businessman" whose name was not disclosed is buying the property from the city. The developer is Madison Equities.
- The Health Care Chaplaincy wants to build an assisted care facility on South Street north of Rutgers Slip (Two Bridges area) for residents with progressive illnesses. There would be 100 one-bedroom apartments (50 Medicaid/50 market rate). They also plan a 10-thousand square foot medical center. The facility would be made up of two fairly low-rise buildings behind the Lands End towers on Cherry Street. Lands End residents at last night's meeting were strongly opposed to the project. For one thing, apartments facing south, towards the FDR, would lose their river views. There were also complaints about the dust and debris that a large construction project would cause. Another resident contended that the neighborhood doesn't need another senior care center. Star Sullivan said, "we need things for our youth." Sullivan warned "people will come out in droves" to protest the project.
