Council speaker tours Bronx

By Denae Brewer
Editor in Chief

Last month, City Council speaker Gifford Miller toured the Bronx in an effort to both see the benefits of a replenished housing stock and the necessity for greater improvements.

For years, the Bronx served as an example of urban blight. Vacant lots, littered with garbage, discarded tires and empty crack vials were common. Drug dealers and users used burned out shells of buildings as safe havens for their illegal activity—the Bronx looked and felt like a war zone.

Today, through the efforts of community based not-for-profit (NFP) organizations such as Woman’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCo) and New Settlement Apartments (NSA), these once eyesores are now multi-unit apartment complexes.

The tour, sponsored by the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development Inc. (ANHD) was designed to highlight the achievements of the various NFPs that acquired property from the city to either renovate or build affordable housing for low to very low income people.

In a press release, John Reilly, Executive Director of Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation and Chair of ANHD’s policy committee, said one goal of the tour was to show speaker Miller “The great capacity of the not-for-profit housing sector to preserve and produce affordable housing, stimulate local economic development, build community and transform neighborhoods.”

Mr. Miller picked up on that point. Surveying the improvements — many of which have taken place over the past ten years—he said, “These are impressive accomplishments. People have taken buildings that were pretty much lost and turned them into communities. Without your efforts, none of this would exist.”

With all of its accomplishments, NFPs are still on unsteady ground: The city’s property holdings are decreasing — greatly attributed to the NFP’s successes. Factor in skyrocketing rent prices and the issue of affordable housing becomes a focal point.

Speaking to the group, Mr. Miller affirmed, “I assure you the Mayor’s office and the council are committed to maintaining affordable housing.” However, due to financial constraints, he asserts the city is looking for unique ways for improvements and stressed the importance that both parties work together to ensure quality affordable housing.

Council member Jose Serrano Jr. who also attended the tour echoed Mr. Miller’s comments. “The speaker has a tremendous commitment to affordable housing in the city and any plan that he has will definitely have the best interest in mind for this community.”

Nancy Biberman, President of WHEDCo, was pleased by the day’s events and felts the council speaker walked away with a greater understanding of what NFPs provide. “It’s sometimes not enough to just tell the story people have to also see it. By coming out today, they really get to see the story.”