My mind wonders as the L train glides suspended high above the urban terrain. The train passes by the family homeless shelters so close we can see inside. We pass over recycling plants littered with abandoned cars and industrial waste piled so high it almost reaches the train track. In the distance is a group of NYCHA buildings vaulted against the skyline. This is East New York, the part that sits on the cusp of Brownsville, Brooklyn, a place close to my heart.
East New York – Brownsville, Brooklyn
Lately, East New York, Brooklyn has been in the spotlight. Approved for rezoning in 2016, the neighborhood was to be the first to benefit from the many pilot programs and initiatives implemented by Mayor de Blasio’s “Housing New York,” under the “Ten Year Plan,” intended to invigorate the economy, benefit homeowners, and address the affordable housing shortage .The City Comptroller Scott Stringer had a different perspective on the rezoning. In December 2015, “The Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and the East New York Rezoning” report, Stringer details the possible failures of the de Blasio rezoning plan for East New York and other low-income neighborhoods in the five boroughs, deeming the program a “developer giveaway.” Later in January 2016, he provided testimony to the New York City Planning Commission, pointing out the redevelopment plan of East New York “could inadvertently displace tens of thousands of households leaving only a small number the ability to afford the new units being built.” https://comptroller.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/East_New_York_CPC_final_letterhead.pdf
The Stringer report indicated that 84 percent of the residents in East New York would be unable to afford the market rate housing proposed under the rezoning, and 55 percent would not afford the affordable units. “The city promised 1,300 affordable housing units under the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing rule” in the first two years of the rezoning, according to Housing and Preservation Development (HPD), In April of 2019 only 187 MIH affordable housing units have been created since the rezoning passed in 2016. Recently there has been frenzy of predatory practices by land developers has housing advocates in the area speaking out against the Mayor and focused on protecting the interests of homeowners of East New York.
“It makes my head spin,” exclaims Marie de la Pierre, long-time resident and business owner in East New York, Industrial Park, Brooklyn. I have lived and worked here for 25 years and have seen more action and interest in the neighborhood than ever. Just yesterday, a realtor knocked on my door and asked if I was interested in selling my house; I was ready to get my mop to hit him in the head.” Marie de la Pierre refers to the recent predatory practices several real estate land developers have been convincing cash strapped homeowners in the neighborhood to sell their homes for a lower value than the market rate. There have also been reports regarding deed stealing as well.
In multiple cases, homeowners believed the documents they were signing were financial assistance because a good portion needed financial assistance, but the documents were the actual property deed. In October of 2019, Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura of the New York Times reported, the practice of stealing property in East New York and for most of Brooklyn communities of low-income households has evolved, and developers are currently “luring homeowners with all-cash sales for a lot less than the property value.”
Once the sale is complete, the developer renovates and sells the property for more than the purchase price, leaving many long-time homeowners forced to leave the community. This practice has raised property values, property taxes and left residents displaced in the Brooklyn neighborhood of East New York.
Advocates in the East New York neighborhood are ready, requesting the Mayor and City Council to declare East New York a “Cease zone” forbidding developers from contacting homeowners directly and creating safety guidelines for home sales in the neighborhood, and halt fraudulent practices. Many developers have already invested in the neighborhood. Developers want to turn a profit with no regard for the residents; when building affordable housing, many management companies refuse tenants using rental vouchers in fear of the inability to sell their tax abatements to syndicator agencies. East New York is home to large NYCHA complexes seven homeless shelters and has spent years suffering from disinvestment by prior administrations. The vacant space is directly contributing to the speculation and affordable housing boom in the neighborhood.
Alabama and Jamaica Avenue, the J train, between Van Sciclien and Broadway Junction station. A large iron skeleton dominates the skyline. The building is to accommodate 235 affordable housing units. The developer “L&M Group” anticipates the project will be finished in Fall of 2020. 
Broadway-Junction Subway Station Brooklyn. The station has connections to six train lines and several buses. One block away is the connection to the Long Island Railroad allowing easy access to Queens or downtown Brooklyn. 
Any morning during the weekday the platform is packed with people rushing to and from the L train. Chaotic and sometimes dangerous due to overcrowding issues. There are several bus and train connections at this station, including the L, J, Z, C, and A train lines 
The Sutter Avenue stop on the L train. NYCHA units dominate the skyline. New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) occupies a vast amount of land in this part of East New York, Brooklyn. 
Sutter and Snediker Avenue East New York, Brooklyn. The value of homes in this area have increased by quite a bit. 
Snediker Ave. between Blake and Sutter Ave. The row of houses sits across from a family homeless facility. The property value has jumped since 2016 in light of Mayor De Blasio rezoning the area. The light blue house with the black trim, 325 Snediker Ave. recently sold for over $600,000.00. 
Blake Ave. facing East towards Pennsylvania Avenue. This block has 2 homeless shelter, supprotive housing and 2 NYCHA Complexes in this part of town. I lived in the complex across the street for 3 years. Although this is a relatively quiet part of the neighborhood during the day, sometimes a few residents from the HELP ONE homeless shelter made the neighborhood a very different place at night. It is very small section of the East New York on the cusp of Brownsville area and the blocks surrounding the shelter are homeowners and MTA workers. 
515 Blake Avenue “Help One Plaza” is a shelter for homeless families. There are over 200 hundred families living in this facility with their children as of April 2016. My family lived here here for a few years. 
Hinsdale Avenue between Sutter and Blake. The house for sale, 299 Hinsdale was purchased for under 300,000.00 in 2013. Today it is listed for over a half million dollars. 
287-293 Hinsdale Avenue, just two houses away from 299 Hinsdale, a construction project which has been underway for nine months. An insider has informed me the housing unit was sold with the premise to accommodate affordable housing, but we will see. 
The sign was covered with paper. The paper covered the owner’s name and information posted regarding the development property at 287-293 Hinsdale Avenue, East New York, Brooklyn. The complete details of the project must be visible to the public; this one was covered. Building violations are fount at multiple construction sites. 
The corner of Snediker Ave at 251 Sutter Ave. East New York, Brooklyn. This location is exactly two blocks from the developments on Hinsdale Ave. 
The walk down Snediker Ave. is home to many large plots and businesses. This the corner of Williams and Snediker Ave this provides quite a view along the L train trail. 
Pitkin and Snediker Ave “Industrial Park” East New York Brooklyn. Part of the commercial area was not rezoned in 2016. Some blocks and lots, however, can be renovated to accommodate the residential need. Rezoning of commercial areas should be re-evaluated to meet the needs of a neighborhood. 
Snediker and Pitkin Ave “Industrial Park” East New York, Brooklyn. The journey to the Atlantic Ave station Long Island Railroad. 
The corner of Pitkin and Snediker Ave East New York Brooklyn, the skyline remains clear of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, unlike other parts of Brooklyn. Properties in the vicinity are being purchased at an alarming pace. More affordable housing units are anticipated to be built. 
106 Snediker Ave. This house was sold and renovated in 2015. The property is worth over $700,000.00 as of April 2019 which is a 14% jump in value since 2015. A resident from the house informed me he never has to look for parking. https://www.realtor.com/myhome/106-Snediker-Ave_Brooklyn_NY_11207_M30754-03956/homevalue 
247 Glenmore or 117 Snediker Ave. East New York, Brooklyn. This is the home of “Brooklyn North Narcotics Unit” the place where DEA agents prepare for their morning raids. The agents park everywhere and sometimes it is difficult to pass through the street. 
An abandoned MTA building on the corner of Snediker and Atlantic Ave. The building at 55 Snediker Ave. has been vacant for years. 
The Atlantic Ave entrance to the L train. The Long Island Railroad stop is across the street with connections to Jamaica Queens and Downtown Brooklyn. 
Atlantic Ave L train station, East New York Brooklyn. This station is 129 years old recently repaired with renovations to the station house. It is where my journey ends. 
In the view of the WIN Family homeless shelter. Over 400 homeless households with children live in two facilities on East New York Ave and Atlantic Ave.
The interest and investment in East New York is due to the prime under-developed property available, and the multiple modes of mass transit in and out of the neighborhood: five subway connections, the Long Island Railroad, and many bus lines are in walking distance. Atlantic Avenue, Linden Blvd., and the Jackie Robinson Parkway (once called the interborough) all direct routes to and from Queens and other parts of Brooklyn, all easily accessed from East New York.
https://therealdeal.com/2018/01/25/why-investors-are-flocking-to-east-new-york/
Additional sources of vast income have invested in the community of East New York. Non-profit service providers and the largest megachurch in the borough have entered bids for additional properties with the promise of affordable housing for the community.
Catholic Charities, the resource hub for rental subsidies and eviction prevention, has intentions to build an eight-story building with 155 units of affordable housing at 2367 Pacific street. The largest Christian Mega Church, lead by the Reverend A.R. Bernard; 45,000 parishioners strong and the most prominent house of worship in Brooklyn, will transform acres of property on Flatlands Avenue to include 2,100 affordable housing units. The complete details of the deal are not available yet, but the community will benefit from the investment.
East New York has many homeless shelters in the area that can benefit from affordable housing in the community. The neighborhood needs investment in infrastructure, land developers that will not pillage and gentrify the neighborhood but preserve the community’s needs by adding stronger broadband services , proper childcare facilities, and community centers. Promoting homeownership in the neighborhood; which is affordable and community-based. Community can be strong in East New York.
The East New York neighborhood residents, whether homeless, homeowners, tenants, understand the neighborhood’s future path is only possible through advocacy and the commitment to community that serves everyones needs equally. The neighborhood’s future; hopefully, will meet the community’s needs and upgrade for future long-term sustainability. East New York was my home for a few years, and during that time, I learned why preservation and investment could only make it better. East New York is great community.
Madigomez333 