Public testimony: April Hurley opposes, cites Phipps track record and demands co-op ownership
April Hurley of Time Action urges a no vote, citing Phipps's track record of HPD violations, incomplete tenant recertification at Lambert Houses, and asking why co-op ownership hasn't been considered for MAPES Court. She demands concrete commitments, not conditional promises, and raises concerns about gas station brownfield remediation and Bronx Zoo traffic impacts.
April?
Good afternoon.
My name is April Hurley.
I'm the executive director of Time Action.
We reached out to Councilmember Fleece's office twice.
We submitted over 57 comments in the last two weeks.
We're asking the subcommittee to vote no on this rezoning for several issues.
We do not just want a community center.
We are concerned that FIPS houses is shortchanging CB6.
Currently, CB6 has over two FIPS houses.
Developments where there are over 46 up to 100 HPD violations.
FIPS houses, in their own words, has only recertified 60% of Lambert houses.
Now they're proposing to redevelop another, another
They're proposing to redevelop MAPES Court and also relocate those same tenants.
However, their track record shows that they are not capable of relocating and recertifying all of their tenants.
In their own words, they define Lambert as a poorly designed, poorly financed project.
However, Phipps Houses has also built Vida Verde.
Vida Verde is a LEED sustainable project that was...
That won awards not only for its financing, but for the way that it was built.
The Community Board 6 acts for co-op ownership.
Why hasn't FIPS Houses even considered providing co-op ownership for MAPES Court?
Also, there's a gas station.
We would like a public...
Commitment to talking with the community.
How are you going to redevelop that gas station?
That gas station, it will directly impact my community garden.
It will directly, I'm a homeowner and the folks online that are waiting to speak, we're also homeowners.
It is not just about a YMCA.
We do not just want a YMCA.
We deserve better.
FIPS has shown that it can do better.
FIPS has also shown that they flout HPD standards in our very community board district.
So these concerns must be addressed.
Thank you.
Thank you.