BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
ECONOMIC/WATERFRONT/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING COMMITTEE
JUNE 16, 2014
ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
R. CERVONE A. DEVENING G. FAETH
V. HERMANIA A. KOZYR A. KRASNOW
R. LUFTGLASS J. STRABONE T. TAYLOR
EXCUSED:
N. BERK-RAUCH
ABSENT:
R. BASHNER E. FELDERH L. KERSAVAGE
M. LEAR S. MATHEWS D. MAZZUCA
M. RACIOPPO D. SCOTTO M. SILVERMAN
GUESTS:
L. BENJAMIN – REP. FOR K. THOMPSON, KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
V. VANARIA A. COOK M. LASSALLE
R. CRUZ K. GEORGE R. CROWLEY
C. SHEPARD
***MINUTES***
Presentation and discussion of a post-Sandy local rebuilding and resiliency status from the perspectives of various organizations including but not limited to the Mayor’s Housing Recovery Office Build-it-Back, Good Shepherd Services, Rebuilding TogetherNYC, Fifth Avenue Committee, South Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation and the Red Hook Initiative.
At the previous meeting, members of the committee asked for an update on Sandy recovery, rebuilding and resiliency.
The presenters were: Tony Schloss – Red Hook Initiative Roseanna Cruz – Good Shepherd Services Kimberly George – RebuildingTogetherNYC Renee Crowley – Fifth Avenue Committee Andrea Devening – Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Andrew Olsen – Mayor’s Housing Recovery Office, Build-it-Back Brooklyn
Tony Schloss – Red Hook Initiative. Two projects focusing on community and networks. A. Red Hook Wi-Fi project – neighborhood network. 15 hotspots in Red Hook. Sign-on page has info on local resources. WiFi network, news, info managed by Red Hook Initiative youth, technology skills, job training, EDC education grant.
B. Red Hook Hub – www.redhookhub.org “Billboards” with info sourced from community groups (posting sites – Library, NYCHA – Ticker: official news.
Rosanna Cruz – Good Shepherd Services. Disaster Case Management Program. One on One assistance to connect families to resources and develop recovery plans, interim assistance while waiting.
Andrew Olsen - Mayor’s Housing Recovery Office – Build-it-Back Brooklyn. Work with NYCHA, FEMA, private foundations: 300 families served at a cost of $200,000. Free home repairs for low-income homeowners (less than 80% of AMI) Red Hook, Canarsie, Rockaway, Staten Island. Applications go through many funding streams. Focus on healthy and safe housing – more than just Sandy repair.
Renee Crowley – Fifth Avenue Committee. Helping with Build-it-Back advocacy. Working in Gowanus and Red Hook. Working with residents at NYCHA on disaster preparedness. Created resource brochures. Now focusing more on resiliency: Resiliency publication will be available electronically. http://issuu.com/fifthavenuecommittee/docs/resiliency-brochure.online
Andrea Devening – Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation. Helping with businesses. - Loans from the city - Grants from National Guard
Published storm recovery report and preparedness plan (available electronically on sbidc.org) Also a part of Rebuild by Design process (HUD initiative on plans for storm mitigation).
Andrew Olsen – Build-it-Back. Three allocations of funding.
1. Repair – to fund repairs 2. Rebuild – repairs with elevation 3. Reimburse – partial reimbursement for rebuilding.
Prioritization based on income level initially. Now all in program but taking longer.
Open floor to questions.
Q. How many applicants in CB6? A. 118 registered applicants (2 have completed design consultations – trying to accelerate others.) 20% reimbursement, 69% repair, 4% rebuild.
Citywide: 400 design consultations, 266 reimbursements, 68 construction starts.
Q. Is program just for single family, multi-family? A. Both: multi-family component is overseen by HPD.
Q. For people who have opted out, can they come back? A. City is trying to re-engage to encourage re-enter program.
Q. Is it best for people to go through community organizations or directly to Housing Recovery Office? A. Andrew Olsen said “either”.
Q. It’s been 20 months – when is it going to be done? What’s the goal? When is it to be wrapped up? A. Moving as fast as possible.
June 25th – Council Member, Carlos Menchaca open meeting with Build-it-Back and Recovery/Resiliency.
Sandy Tracker: List of all money – where it is going, what has not been used. www1.nyc.gov/sandytracker/
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned.
The minutes were submitted by Rick Luftglass and Ariel Krasnow.