The city’s first private application under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program is on hold after Inwood’s city council member postponed a vote on Washington Square Partners and Acadia Realty Trust’s proposed 355-unit building in the neighborhood.
City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, who was booed by protestors at the project site over the weekend, sent an e-mail blast Monday citing community opposition as he announced the delay, Politico reported.
“As passions are running high when it comes to this issue, I implore residents to consider our options carefully. I will be in touch soon about when a final decision will be made as well as what/when our vote will be,” he wrote.
The City Council’s zoning subcommittee had been scheduled to vote on the proposal Tuesday morning.
The Council has until Aug. 16 to approve the rezoning for the project, located at 4650 Broadway at the corner of Sherman Avenue, which would pave the way for 17-story building where 20 percent of the 355 units would be set aside as affordable housing for those making 40 percent of the area median income.
Rodriguez did indicate support for the project, writing that by voting against it there would be “absolutely no opportunity to build desperately needed affordable housing at this site,” and instead, the developers could build a “luxury tower at a minimum of 14 stories with 200 units at fully market price.”
Residents oppose the plan saying that its height is out of character with the neighborhood and fear the impact it will have on gentrifying the area.
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer gave the proposal her approval after the developers scaled back the size of the project.
A spokesperson for de Blasio said the mayor’s office will continue to work with the stakeholders. [Politico] – Rich Bockmann