inwoodnyc - NYCEDC

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INWOODNYC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOUSING

PUBLIC PROCESS

1.

9. Is this plan finished? No, the Inwood plan is not finished. The City will continue working with the community throughout the coming year to refine the plan and respond to community needs and priorities.

What is the City doing to preserve existing affordable housing? The City is using all available tools to keep rent-stabilized apartments affordable, upgrade existing rental buildings, and create opportunities for affordable homeownership.

2. My landlord is harassing me, where do I go to get help? Legal Services NYC is a nonprofit organization that offers free legal help to fight eviction, harassment, rent overcharges, and other housing issues. Call Legal Services NYC at 917.661.4500 or visit their Inwood office at 5030 Broadway.

10. When is the next opportunity to provide input? A scoping hearing will be held in September to allow the public to comment on the City’s environmental study related to the rezoning. The hearing will be on September 14, 6:00pm at JHS 52, located at 650 Academy Street in Inwood.

3. How many apartments will be affordable and for how long? Outside of the preservation areas (see map), at least 25 to 30 percent of all new housing in private buildings must be permanently affordable under the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program. On City-owned land, like the Inwood Library, the City can go beyond MIH regulations and deliver 100 percent affordability.

11. What is the process for community input on the rezoning? The City will soon begin a formal public review process, known as ULURP, which lasts around seven months. The Community Board and Borough President will make recommendations on the rezoning proposal, and the City Planning Commission and City Council will vote to approve or disapprove. There will be several public hearings where community members can voice their opinions.

4. How affordable will new apartments be for Inwood residents? Under the MIH program, there are two main options for affordability in rezoning areas: (1) 25 percent of housing must be affordable to families earning up to $49,000 (for example, $1,100 per month for a family of three); OR

12. When will the rezoning take effect? The rezoning will take effect when the public review process is complete, which is expected in 2018. However, City investments in affordable housing, infrastructure, open space, and jobs have already begun and will continue long after the rezoning.

(2) 30 percent of housing must be affordable to families earning up to $65,000 (for example, $1,600 per month for a family of three)

ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY

Under both options, 10 percent of new apartments must be affordable to families earning up to $33,000 per year. Within buildings on City-owned land and private buildings where the City is contributing funding, the City will provide more affordable housing, including apartments for families with low and very low incomes.

13. People in this community need jobs. How will this plan help them? The rezoning will allow new and existing businesses to grow within Inwood, creating new jobs right in the neighborhood. The City has also opened a new Workforce1 Center in Northern Manhattan to connect residents to jobs and training, located at 516 West 181st Street, fifth floor.

5. How many new apartments could be built and when? The proposed rezoning would reasonably create the potential for around 4,300 new apartments, including at least 1,300 to 1,500* that would be permanently affordable. * Updated figure as of 09/05/2017

6. Will community residents get priority for affordable housing? Yes, residents of Community District 12 (Inwood and Washington Heights) will receive preference for half of all affordable apartments created, per current guidelines.

INFRASTRUCTURE 7. Has the City looked at the effects of development on our infrastructure? Yes, the City is currently studying infrastructure impacts, including sewers, air quality, open space, and transportation. The findings from the study will be released in the coming months as part of the public process. 8. Our infrastructure is already strained and needs investment. What is the City doing? Over $40 million has been dedicated to infrastructure so far, including investments in Highbridge Park, a new jobs center, and a new legal services office. Further infrastructure investments will be identified through the public process.

14. What is the City doing for small businesses? The City is working with small business owners and entrepreneurs to provide free workshops and resources to help their enterprises thrive. The City is also providing funding to improve the business environment along commercial streets like Dyckman, Broadway, and 207th. An NYC Business Solutions Center is located at 560 West 181st Street, second floor. 15. What does this plan do to support the arts in Inwood? The City has helped local groups to form the new Northern Manhattan Arts and Culture coalition to lead community projects. To learn more or to get involved, please visit www.nmac.nyc.

If you have additional questions, please contact us at [email protected] or visit edc.nyc/InwoodNYC for regular project updates.

ZONING 16. What is the City doing to preserve Inwood’s neighborhood character? In response to community concerns, the City has significantly expanded the rezoning area to protect neighborhood character and rent-stabilized housing west of 10th Avenue. Eighty percent of the expanded area is a preservation zone with R7A zoning, which means that any developments will have similar heights as existing apartment buildings.

17. Will the public have access to the waterfront? Yes, new buildings along the Harlem River will provide permanent open spaces for the public. The City is also exploring opportunities to invest in new public parks along the waterfront. 18. How tall will new buildings be? Please see map below.

If you have additional questions, please contact us at [email protected] or visit edc.nyc/InwoodNYC for regular project updates. TM

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