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NEW YORK – Councilmember Gale Brewer, Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and State Senator Bill Perkins joined Congressman Charles Rangel to applaud the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) decision to reject the sale of Trinity House, the Mitchell Lama development located at 100 West 92nd Street, New York, NY 10024.
For months, tenants, housing activists and community leaders have been pressing HPD to reject the sale of the historic, 199-unit Mitchell Lama development, which was built in 1969 and owned by the Trinity School.
“Trinity House is a community staple,” said Rep. Rangel, whose 15th Congressional District represents parts of the West Side and all of Upper Manhattan. “It’s a time capsule that contains the diverse, progressive Upper West Side we all grew up in and fell in love with. I commend HPD for rejecting Trinity’s sale on the grounds that it will not preserve affordable housing for future generations.”
Councilwoman Brewer (6th CD) echoed the Congressman’s message.
“I thank Congressman Rangel for providing leadership in our effort to retain affordable housing into the future at Trinity House,” said Council member Brewer. “HPD stepped up to the task of working with the community to give us time to find an alternative to a private developer who will turn vacant units into market rate housing.”
Said Assemblymember O’Donnell (69th AD): “HPD should be lauded for demonstrating its commitment to maintaining affordable housing by rejecting the sale of Trinity House. The rejection makes a strong statement that future offers must include an affordable housing component. HPD clearly recognizes that communities such as the Upper West Side can no longer afford large-scale losses of affordable units.”
BP Stringer added: “I commend HPD for their decision to preserve valuable affordable housing units in Manhattan. My hope is that this will serve as a precedent for all levels of government-HPD, DHCR, and HUD-to work harder to ensure the continued affordability of existing housing.”
“I congratulate the tenants of Trinity on this hard fought victory,” noted Senator Perkins (30th SD). “HPD’s decision is to be applauded and it is a sign of what can be done when communities come together.”
Rangel also indicated his hope that this is the beginning of a new era of government oversight over sales of affordable housing buildings.
“I see this as a step in the right direction for the City of New York and an agency that has not done all that it can for preserving affordable housing,” the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means said. “Just like HUD stepped up to the plate in the case of Starrett City and rightfully denied the sale of that development, HPD has done the same thing. I hope it will continue to play a more aggressive role in executing its mission of housing preservation.”
“The tenants are elated that HPD has decided to do what we feel is the right thing, to preserve the affordable housing that is so important to the city. We hope that Trinity School will decide to work with us to come to an agreement that will benefit everyone in community,” said Christine Spencer, co-chair of the Trinity House Tenants Association.
“HPD’s decision to reject the sale of Trinity House is a decision to reject the speculation of affordable housing. It is a powerful move that will protect Mitchell-Lama buildings from falling into the hands of predatory buyers. The city’s leadership creates opportunities for tenants to make preservation a reality,” said Amy Chan of Tenants and Neighbors.
The Trinity House decision comes at a time when community activists and elected officials have stepped up their campaigns to save hundreds of affordable housing units in the city. In recent months, Congressman Rangel's office has worked with groups like the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB), Tenants and Neighbors and Harlem Tenants United to urge landlords to support Harlem's Mother Zion apartments and other project-based Section 8 buildings.
Community Board Seven Chair Helen Rosenthal reiterated the community board's commitment to working with HPD and elected officials.
“The Board has unanimously supported the rejection of the sale of Trinity House,” said Rosenthal. “Our Board will fight to maintain the Mitchell-Lama homes in our district and beyond,” she said.
Rangel has also used his position as head of the Ways and Means Committee to fight for more federal tax credits to build new units for low-income and working class New Yorkers.
“Property values may have soared, but many people across this city and nation live on fixed incomes or have not seen their salaries increase,” said Rangel. “Elected officials, at all levels of government, are working to ensure that hardworking families who help keep the social and economic fabric of our communities whole are not pushed out.”
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