South of EP: The church at Rogers between Carrol and Crown is torn down. Residential on the way

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170516/crown-heights/rogers-avenue-homeless-shelter-opens-crown-heights Families are moving in.

They hope to have the building fully occupied within weeks. ...that is in sharp contrast to the months it takes to fully lease up a market rate building. Not a bad revenue stream if you ask me.

whynot_31 said:

They hope to have the building fully occupied within weeks. ...that is in sharp contrast to the months it takes to fully lease up a market rate building. Not a bad revenue stream if you ask me.

Plus, the government is a reliable renter that isnt incentivized to negotiate or pick up and leave any time soon like a market rate renter is. A government contract like this is a great gift to pass down to the kids. It's consistent and stable gift that keeps on giving without much proactivity from the owner.

crownheightster said:

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170516/crown-heights/rogers-avenue-homeless-shelter-opens-crown-heights Families are moving in.

Also, apparently not moving in (as of an hour ago) https://patch.com/new-york/prospectheights/homeless-shelter-opens-crown-heights-despite-opposition-neighbors-local

It sounds as if the 10 families that have already moved in will have the opportunity for some restful sleep for a while. ...until the court allows the rest of the units to fill.

There are for sure tenants now. The blinds show obvious signs of being pulled up and down. Mostly down. Very quiet.

http://pix11.com/2017/05/16/crown-heights-homeless-shelter-opens-amidst-controversy/ So...one of the first new residents is now even from Brooklyn...

I can't say I care which borough they are from. People move here from all over the world. Some by choice, others by not much choice...

Because part of the city's justification for the disproportionate number of beds in CH is that they are trying to keep the homeless in the areas they are from...

crownheightster said:

http://pix11.com/2017/05/16/crown-heights-homeless-shelter-opens-amidst-controversy/ So...one of the first new residents is now even from Brooklyn...

To be honest, I have a hard time reading the quotes because of the new residents' anger at not being given everything to their liking. I understand they're human and have both emotional needs and reactions, but I resent the ungrateful attitude that's apparent in that article. I give a lot in taxes so they can have a bed to sleep in. I work hard so I can live in NYC, forget in my number 1, number 2 or even number 10 neighborhood. I truly have a hard time wrapping my head around the entitlement portrayed in the article by people who are being given housing (in a fairly expensive neighborhood) for free. Thoughts?

I have a hard time thinking of this housing as being given away. ...that makes it sound as if the city is acting out of altruism, when in reality they are trying to stay in compliance with court orders that mandate sufficient numbers of shelter beds be available. BTW, the NYT published a pretty good overview of the situation today: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/nyregion/homeless-shelters-new-york-mayor.html?smid=tw-share

It infuriates me that the City's lipservice to housing people from the community, in the community, does not pan out to at least 1 out of 10 recently sheltered families. Also, I did not see the quotes as being ungrateful; I thought people sounded confused, "why am I being sent to Brooklyn?" and disgusted with the shelter system. And if services are supposed to be provided -- and we are ALL paying for those services -- I'm upset that they are not there for the families!

The "quality of services" you describe are not available in a system as overwhelmed as DHS's. In February, I read that the system had less than 300 beds available on many nights. ....out of 60,000. As a result, they are not able to house people in the same neighborhood they started in. They are barely able to remain in compliance with the Right To Shelter consent decrees: Callahan. McCain.

The 10 families get the whole building to themselves until at least June 2nd. https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170518/crown-heights/judge-order-homeless-shelter-rogers-avenue

I think of the children in these families and the kind of impact homelessness has on their lives and their performance in school. When basic needs go unmet, the importance of something like homework or studying for a test wanes. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/24/nyregion/homeless-students-in-new-york-city.html

de Blasio carried Crown Heights pretty solidly in the last election. He's up again soon, wonder how his housing strategy will effect the results. Also, what happens to his plan if he's a one-term Mayor? Seems plausible to me that the idea of opening new shelters across the whole city will never be realized.

Perhaps we'll get a Republican mayor, who will deport all of the homeless to internment camps in Idaho (build a wall!)

Let's not forget the value of theater. If DeBlasio can show the court that the city is making every effort to remain in compliance with the consent degrees, the Coalition For the Homeless may have a tougher time arguing that the city is in violation. ...and the press may have a harder time depicting him as a Mayor who gets very little done. I perceive those as being the primary motivators because I agree with this article in that his job is not at risk: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170521/BLOGS01/170519860

This Friday, the local block associations will make a last ditch effort to stop more families from moving in.

I walked past the building yesterday and noticed that it still looks unfinished. No landscaping, windows have contractor tape on them, and the blinds they are putting up for the homeless families are already starting to deteriorate. What a great neighbor.

The developer has found a tenant that will lease the whole building, as is.

So I guess we'll be treated to watching the building decompose as quickly as it was erected. Nice.

Can you elaborate? @whynot_31 You mean the city?

Yes. ...in conjunction with Samaritan Village. Here are the last ditch efforts of those opposed to it opening:

Judge upheld the initial ruling. I talked to one of the homeowner association's members. Their will be another hearing on June 9th when the Neighborhood Association will present their case.

And, until then, the city will have to pay for empty space and wherever the "unmoved in" families are presently staying.

The shelter is happening https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170612/crown-heights/order-lifted-homeless-shelter-267-rogers-avenue

Tomorrow, the sun will rise in the east and set in the west.

and the city will have a one more resource to cope. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/nyregion/homeless-new-york.html?smid=tw-nytmetro&smtyp=cur

The city has entered into a similar arrangement at a market rate building in the Bronx. http://nypost.com/2017/07/25/developer-cuts-deal-to-build-homeless-shelter-instead-of-apartments/