Most projects
in Greenburgh take years before a shovel even touches the ground, but Supervisor Feiner
wisked Westhab’s publicly funded, 4-story apartment building, squeezed onto a
.7-acre piece of land, through the process in months! When it's a pet project of Feiner, all rules and regulations are summarily waived. When, not if, someone objects, he finds a way to either remove them from the equation or will deflect attention from himself to something else, such as a bridge or two percent tax cap.
This Westhab project will overwhelm the
transitional space from light commercial to residential into the small residential neighborhood of Fulton Park. Supervisor Feiner promised
them a senior assisted living facility if the homeless were ever to leave. Lie! Then he promised workforce housing for Greenburgh employees. Lie! The neighborhood favored workforce housing for Greenburgh employees but wanted it scaled to fit the property. The Paul said no, siding with Westhab, saying that it had to be big for it to be cost effective. One resident at one of the hearings, which are only a nuisance to Feiner and his projects, asked to see the final offering from Westhab so the community wouldn’t have to repeatedly waste their time coming to different meetings and hearings to see the newest plans.
The neighborhood learned that Feiner repeatedly and routinely lied every step of the way! It turns out that this project wasn't for Greenburgh Municipal employees. In fact, it was not for anyone from Greenburgh, employees or not! All lies! He stated the project was needed there because it would be a
convenient location for the residents to go to Central Avenue restaurants, the
train station, bus stops. Originally, he had a different tune, one where these residents would walk to nearby supermarkets. Well, those are closed and now he’s touting workforce residents dining at Central Avenue restaurants, not
about closed supermarkets or people needing food at home. How much spendable money do these residents have to use on recreational dining?
In a recent press conference held by Feiner, he now states, “Something is going to be
built here and I think this is the best option.” What? Are there new plans – or
did he re-re-rezone the space for them yet again? He and the Town Board have routinely changed zoning and requirements most people could only dream of or read in a fictional novel about government deceit, greed and corruption.
Unable to rent
these tiny apartments at market rates, Westhab will approach DSS and rent them to
Section 8 recipients. When the public refuses to rent these overpriced, postage stamp sized apartments, they’ll be used to house parolees, addicts and worse. It’s a well paying
business model for Westhab. It a sham for us and a shame for this neighborhood to be punished like this after tolerating the homeless there for over 25 years.
Fulton Park is still
reeling from Tropical Storms Irene and Lee with no relief from Feiner and crew. They’ll
see a permanent increase in flooding, traffic, noise, crime and gangs to a once
beautiful little neighborhood. Crime and Section 8 housing go hand-in-hand. Think, North Memphis, TN.
More of
Feiner’s lies equals more pain for another already neglected and suffering
neighborhood! I wish them luck!
Guest Commentary submitted by Whitney P.
