Artist community to see rent increases

The residents of the Westbeth Center for the Arts, at 463 West Street at Bethune Street, are facing rent increases of 40 to 50 percent. Westbeth is a complex of buildings established in 1971 as affordable artists’ housing, and today 30 percent of the residents are more than 70 years old. The rent increase, being imposed by the Westbeth Housing Development Fund, which is made up of residents and non-residents of Westbeth, would raise monthly rents by $275 to $525, depending on the unit. The 384 units range from 440 to 1,285 square feet, 60 of which are duplexes. The board argues the increase is necessary because of growing operating expenses, and because the complex is losing its tax abatement in six months. The board has to file the rent increase with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which will most likely cut the percentage of the increase substantially, according to the board president.