Sunday, February 21, 2016

De Blasio wants to turn churches into developers


From DNA Info:

Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration is reaching out to clergy members across the city to see if they want to partner with private developers to convert underused parking lots, buildings and other church properties into affordable housing.

"There may be some houses of worship that may be in a position to help," with the mayor's housing plan that promises to create or preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing by 2024, said Jonathan Soto who works specifically with clergy across the city on behalf of the mayor.

"It could be any house of worship interested in developing their property," Soto said.

The effort might involve wrangling non-profit developers, helping direct funding toward projects, getting involvement from local politicians and helping churches navigate the city's land use process, mayoral spokesman Wiley Norvell said.

"We’re taking every opportunity to build more affordable housing, and many of our faith communities have been deeply involved in affordable housing for decades," Norvell said, adding that though there's currently no specific formula for how the administration plans on working with churches.

While the administration has begun to look at church-owned property for affordable development, an audit released Thursday by Comptroller Scott Stringer found that the city owns more than 1,100 vacant lots that it could be using for housing.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why doesn't he go to the asians in bayside here who seem to put up churches on every single corner then?

OGCLE said...

Why doesn't the mayor try to do something with the already-empty buildings in Queens before trying to buy up property from churches ? On my crappy block there are 4 empty buildings and a big lot around the corner--developers bought them years ago, but haven't done anything with them; they just accumulate litter and squatters and provide a hangout for ppl doing drugs and meeting for a quickie.

Anonymous said...

Keep your dirty hands away from our houses of worship !

Anonymous said...

That was the location of the St George Parsonage, once the Astoria Institute, the direct legacy of John Jacob Astoria that prompted the community name change. Built in 1828.

Application for landmarking denied - "does not fit criteria' bullshit. Press as well as the preservation community, as is almost always the case, ignored the issue because it is in Queens and they depend on funding by city council where the Queens delegation as a big say.

Built by Gloria Damico's Son Lenny with public money by Peter Jr. Rumor had it that graves were disturbed, too. More on Crappy:

http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2009/07/vallone-gave-developer-public-money-to.html

JQ LLC said...

Um, separation of church and state anyone?

(sarc) said...

OGCLE;

Everybody wants something shiny and new...

Anonymous said...

If the churches cooperated they would have to follow city guidelines. That would definitely develop into a first amendment problem.

R185 said...

So, what exactly is wrong with reaching out to churches regarding housing?

Joe Moretti said...

Churches & Religious institutes are already developers, one only needs to look at Jamaica and Flushing, fucking churches go up every other day next to homes, in storefronts, etc. The new cancer of Queens, churches.

Anonymous said...

Let's develop cemeteries...build above the graves.
That is the most underutilized land around.
How about up zoning Der Mayor's Park Slope turf for high density public housing..eh?
How about a homeless shelter on the front lawn of Gracie Mansion?
Du Blasio is a train wreck. PLEASE deny him a second term!

Anonymous said...

The cars in that pic are parked a little close!

Maybe they should knock down those building and build a parking structure!

Anonymous said...

Catholic schools with low enrollments?

Anonymous said...

There should be no partnership between the Churches and the City. If a church is no longer economically viable then sell the property to the highest bidder. Collaboration between the Church and City will just lead to more sweetheart deals. If you don't want your church sold I suggest you get more active in it and kick more money in the collection plate.

Anonymous said...

Church's may be greedy enough to go for it

Anonymous said...

Saint Fidelis in college point would make great housing or a 4 story super market

Anonymous said...

If it's church property how does it effect the tax base? How will anything built there be taxed?

This seems like a snap judgement by an overwhelmed lifelong civil servant. No thought or realistic plan.

That DeBlasio, he is our guy!

Anonymous said...

The Vallone and Dorsa playground of Saint Andrew Avellino school is completely underutilized with very low enrollment. I'm sure the local Chinese and Korean business people can come up with something to make the most of all the available space.

Anonymous said...

Again, the question that is eternally asked here: what does the Queens delegation say?

Anonymous said...

This mayor is certainly a Commie nut job. He see only the fulfillment of his wealth redistribution (mostly into his own pocket) and nothing else. He is a robotic slave to his real estate development masters, not a mayor. His suggestions for "improving" life in NYC all revolve around giving away taxpayer money to illegals and layabout bums, those who were wandering the halls of their schools or smoking dope on the corner rather than equipping themselves to support their eventual families. Now DeDumDum expects the people who DID sacrifice immediate good times in order to acquire an education to support and house these bums. Do you feel their contemptuous laughter at us chumps?

Anonymous said...

Please, the mayor's fantasies are just that - they become real only when someone votes on them, not by his fiat. This ain't Merry Olde England.

So again, we ask, if this is so important, why are our attention grabbing 'public servants' so silent on this?

Anonymous said...

There should be no partnership between the Churches and the City. If a church is no longer economically viable then sell the property to the highest bidder.
---
No, they were many cases on donated land. They are a community facility doing great things on often a shoestring budget (in contrast with the Queens Library Board blowing through millions in capital costs)

If a religious institution cannot resonate with the community, they should sell it to another religious body who can. This is a very religious country.

Anonymous said...

Murky. Will the city rezone the land after the sale to a developer? Do you have to use city recommended developers? Some houses of worship need funds to declining/aging membership.

Anonymous said...

200,000 housing units at maybe 5 people per unit = 1 million more people
This mayor is very sick, if you took every church parking lot in all of New York and built 8 story's high or land 5X the size of Maspeth you would still not have enough space.
And where would 1 million more people work to pay their $hare for apartments, schools and healthcare ? What a very sick bastard !

Yaacov said...

"Churches and the City"
The Pope is after 100 million Hispanic catholic immigrants to re-seed his flock in America. Uniting churches with government power and protection is how they expect to accomplish this. Doesn't this pope & mayor know any form of "church & state unification" is 100% illegal according to Americas Constitution.

Question: Why dies every Latino gang-banging murderer, felon sitting in jail have a Tattoo of Jesus. This means good Christians ?

Anonymous said...

"Some houses of worship need funds to declining/aging membership"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vatican has had a fix for that going back to the Bush administration. And its why Trump is the #1 enemy of the Pope's effort to fill new membership in America right now.
I think civil war or civil disobedience like we never seen in our lifetimes is approaching no matter who is elected president. --and all the cops and firemen wont be enough to protect homeowners especially in Queens.
When Trump starts defunding scantuary citys and starts deporting all these criminals and freeloaders they will torch the buildings and buisnesses. Places like Jackson Heights, Corona and Elmhurst will be burnt to the ground and longer exsist.
No joke because thats what WILL happen !!

R185 said...

Read the article. 200,000 is the total goal for the affordable housing program, not for the church initiative.

Anonymous said...

The moron's idea long implemented in the People Republic of Falasheng.
Donald Trump doesn't even know ho wright he says "China is killing us".
Well we are being killed!

(sarc) said...

JQ LLC said...
"Um, separation of church and state anyone?"

Could you please direct me exactly to a specific section of the United States Constitution that the phrase "separation of church and state" is contained?

I have looked and looked, I read it again and again, and cannot seem to find it.

First Amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The Government contracting, helping, working with and/or recognizing a religious institution, religion, or a particular church is NOT an "establishment of religion"!

Or perhaps I am just not understanding the language or the history...

Anonymous said...

It is not just Queens, Right near me -this is going up:

http://ny.curbed.com/2015/1/14/10002742/extells-contested-tower-next-to-park-ave-church-is-a-go

Church attendance has been in decline for decades and their schools have been closing. If redeveloping underutilized property keeps them afloat a while longer, it is not some "commie plot" it is just economic reality.

(sarc) said...

Anonymous said...
"And where would 1 million more people work to pay their $hare for apartments, schools and healthcare ?"

NOWHERE

You pay for them!..

JQ LLC said...

"an audit released Thursday by Comptroller Scott Stringer found that the city owns more than 1,100 vacant lots that it could be using for housing."

http://comptroller.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/documents/FM14_112A.pdf

check out the locales, kind of seedy, but if you can't afford or no longer can't afford to live in certain places, especially places deemed hip or already smothered by gentrification and inflated market rates, these towns are the only options.

re: merry ole England

This proposal does sound like something from Downton Abbey, like something Lord Grantham would do to keep his properties solvent on the advice of his son-in-laws. Lord Grantham is also a twit and a bad businessman.

I can see why a lot of limo liberal thinkers like that show. I watch it because Michelle Dockery is hot.

Anonymous said...

Church attendance has been in decline for decades and their schools have been closing. If redeveloping underutilized property keeps them afloat a while longer, it is not some "commie plot" it is just economic reality.

^^

not true. old school churches are declining but they are more than offset against evangelical, muslim, etc. religion remains a vital part of the American landscape unlike the other 'advanced' countries. the fact is they provide social services at a fraction of the cost of official government programs that are mostly employment agencies for the well connected and a money trough for the well positioned.

Anonymous said...

Leave it to the Church of Liberal Democrat Bleeding Hearts to come up with a
MIRACLE

Anonymous said...

You pay for them!..

All of us pay for them. Including you.

Anonymous said...

GREAT IDEA !! MAYBE THEY CAN RENT OUT THE UNUSED BUILDING SPACE THAT ARE NO LONGER SERVING A PURPOSE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
All of us pay for them. Including you.

Maybe I have a VERY good accountant.

And perhaps I have the ability to travel, and claim residence outside of New York State.

No one checks these things, Imagine that...

Ms. Tsouris said...

I think NOT taxing all these facilities that are religious institutions like any business is a violation of separation of church and state. Tax the crap out of them and maybe at least some will disappear

Anonymous said...

St. Andrews is not underutilized or ill attended.
Increasing Latino parishioners fill the school with their kids. That is still a very well off parish.
But maybe the old Italians, Dorsa and Vallone do not like the idea of them controlling the church in the future.
Maybe that's why D&V are involved in its financial operations.

Anonymous said...

Slippery slope. Lots of old churches on their last legs, with tax free property, around the city. This is all unchartered waters and likely to end up with less taxes paid to city coffers.

JQ LLC said...

What if they decide to ask mosques for help next? Hoh boy

Anonymous said...

Maybe I have a VERY good accountant.

Yeah right. The federal taxes cover all this invasion. Keep dreaming.
Even if you move to Mars as long as you are a citizen have to report/file income to the IRS.

Anonymous said...

Yaacov is right on. This Pope and his Novus Ordo lefty clergy are a disgrace. They redicule everything pious and Catholic including the traditional mass and sacraments while approving every sort of dysfunctional immoral behavior. The result is places like Queens where good people trying to do God's will are not safe and have to fear for their lives and property.

Anonymous said...

yes you must report

http://www.businessinsider.com/7000-millionaires-paid-no-income-tax-2012-9

Anonymous said...

My children have attended the school for the last 11 years and I have one more still there. Admissions in the school are very low. the principal has said this as recently as a few weeks ago at a meeting. There is a big effort to attract Latino and Asian students but they are not really biting. The school screwed yo big time when they chose not to have the universal pre k like other area parochial schools. It is a dwindling student body.