Back from the Land of Enchantment.....
Sorry.....been deathly ill the last coupla weeks, just NOW finally getting over it.......
....still though, a trip to the desert and some tables to dance on will always make things all better.
....still no excuse NOT to blather here every so often, though, soooo......
The following was cut-and-pasted without permission from The Buffalo News (since the fucking hyperlink expires in less than two weeks of opriginal posting by The News) -
'Low-income' apartment complex in Cheektowaga receives tax breaks despite high rents and perks
Collegiate Crossings draws complaints of prejudice
By Thomas J. Dolan NEWS STAFF REPORTERUpdated: 03/13/08 8:27 AM
When it is finished, Collegiate Crossings in Cheektowaga will collect rents as high as $2,480 per month for a four-bedroom apartment and provide tenants security gates and fences, a pool, a new $2.5 million community center and other perks.
Former residents of the development were displaced in order to make way for the project.
But Collegiate Crossings is a low-income project — state law says — because of the role played by the tiny public housing authority that serves Kenmore.
“They’re using $100 million in tax-exempt financing to displace hundreds of families, and then developers will double or quadruple rents for students who will replace them,” predicted Scott Gehl, executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal.
HOME has filed discrimination charges on behalf of three African- American college students who were ordered to vacate the complex when work began on Collegiate Crossings.
The case highlights the influence of the Kenmore Housing Authority, which has wielded its power to issue tax-free bonds under a Depression Era law that was intended to provide decent housing for low-income tenants.
With a total of 200 residents, Kenmore’s housing agency ranks as one of the area’s smallest providers of low-income housing. But it shows plenty of muscle when it comes to financing multimillion- dollar projects outside the village.
Kenmore’s agency has raised $30 million for new dorms for the University at Buffalo, $15 million to refurbish two apartment projects in Amherst and a total of about $15 million for senior citizen projects in the Town of Tonawanda and Cheektowaga.
An attorney for the Kenmore agency says that the projects abide by the law and that the agency also is allowed to collect fees for its activities, which are used to support Kenmore’s own housing units.
But Gehl said that in order for the Cheektowaga project to go forward, students who might truly benefit from low-income housing are being forced out in favor of students who don’t need it.
One student said apartment managers told her that, in order to become a tenant in Collegiate Crossing, she should ask officials at her school if they “accepted the arrangement.” But perplexed school officials told her, “They had no idea what I was talking about and . . . that my housing was not their decision to make,” HOME’S complaint says.
Another student said managers offered to relocate her to an apartment that was not scheduled for renovations, but she declined because the rent was $30 more per month and there were no laundry facilities.
“They were each offered alternatives,” Gehl said, “but the only deals they offered these students were bad deals.”
Earlier this year, state human rights officials also charged that Collegiate Crossings “unlawfully perpetuates segregation” by excluding families, African-Americans and elderly tenants who want to live there. The state has since withdrawn its charges and rejoined talks with the developer aimed at settling the complaints.
Attorney Timothy C. Cashmore defended the Kenmore authority, saying a clause in the state’s public housing law qualifies Collegiate Crossings as housing for low-income residents.
Under the law, students at the Cheektowaga development may have incomes of up to $53,280 a year, and rents — which are charged on a per-bed basis — will total $2,480 a month in a four-bedroom apartment.
In contrast, federally sponsored housing projects, like those run by the Kenmore agency in its two buildings on Kenmore Avenue near Colvin Boulevard, have stricter income limits — no more than $20,750 for a single person or $29,650 for a family of four.
The difference stems from a section of the state law that defines a low-income tenant as one whose income “does not exceed six times the rental (including the value or cost to them of heat, light, water and cooking fuel).”
“That’s absolutely ridiculous,” said attorney Michael L. Hanley, who represents low-income clients in major housing cases. “We’ve said for years that formula makes absolutely no sense.” (E-Note: Ya think????)
State records show the “low-income” definition has remained largely intact in the 69 years since the law was passed. The only change has been to increase the multiplier from five to “six times the rental.” As a result, Hanley said: “You could take the fanciest apartment that you can build and that would just make more rich people eligible.”
Kenmore officials refused to be interviewed for this article and referred all questions to Cashmore, who said the housing authority first used the “six times the rent” formula when it provided financing about a decade ago for the 155-unit Hadley Road Village apartments on UB’s North (Amherst) Campus.
However, UB’s rents are lower than those for Collegiate Crossings and are based on the apartment unit, rather than per bed. As a result, when compared on a equal basis, income limits are lower than those at the Cheektowaga apartments.
Mark Chason, the developer of Collegiate Crossings, said he plans to offer $500 discounts for some apartments starting in about 2010, as a way to make them more affordable to students with families.
tdolan@buffnews.com
OK, now at first I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out WHAT the actual, true ulterior motive is for building and pricing these things is?? Let's look at some basic realities and facts here:
Saw this pic on a bus stop wall in The Hills of Cedar. I don't get it.....I must be feeling pretty thick today. Anyone....anyone.....Bueller......Bueller......?????
Sorry.....been deathly ill the last coupla weeks, just NOW finally getting over it.......
....still though, a trip to the desert and some tables to dance on will always make things all better.
....still no excuse NOT to blather here every so often, though, soooo......
- WHAT are these people thinking?
The following was cut-and-pasted without permission from The Buffalo News (since the fucking hyperlink expires in less than two weeks of opriginal posting by The News) -
'Low-income' apartment complex in Cheektowaga receives tax breaks despite high rents and perks
Collegiate Crossings draws complaints of prejudice
By Thomas J. Dolan NEWS STAFF REPORTERUpdated: 03/13/08 8:27 AM
When it is finished, Collegiate Crossings in Cheektowaga will collect rents as high as $2,480 per month for a four-bedroom apartment and provide tenants security gates and fences, a pool, a new $2.5 million community center and other perks.
Former residents of the development were displaced in order to make way for the project.
But Collegiate Crossings is a low-income project — state law says — because of the role played by the tiny public housing authority that serves Kenmore.
“They’re using $100 million in tax-exempt financing to displace hundreds of families, and then developers will double or quadruple rents for students who will replace them,” predicted Scott Gehl, executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal.
HOME has filed discrimination charges on behalf of three African- American college students who were ordered to vacate the complex when work began on Collegiate Crossings.
The case highlights the influence of the Kenmore Housing Authority, which has wielded its power to issue tax-free bonds under a Depression Era law that was intended to provide decent housing for low-income tenants.
With a total of 200 residents, Kenmore’s housing agency ranks as one of the area’s smallest providers of low-income housing. But it shows plenty of muscle when it comes to financing multimillion- dollar projects outside the village.
Kenmore’s agency has raised $30 million for new dorms for the University at Buffalo, $15 million to refurbish two apartment projects in Amherst and a total of about $15 million for senior citizen projects in the Town of Tonawanda and Cheektowaga.
An attorney for the Kenmore agency says that the projects abide by the law and that the agency also is allowed to collect fees for its activities, which are used to support Kenmore’s own housing units.
But Gehl said that in order for the Cheektowaga project to go forward, students who might truly benefit from low-income housing are being forced out in favor of students who don’t need it.
One student said apartment managers told her that, in order to become a tenant in Collegiate Crossing, she should ask officials at her school if they “accepted the arrangement.” But perplexed school officials told her, “They had no idea what I was talking about and . . . that my housing was not their decision to make,” HOME’S complaint says.
Another student said managers offered to relocate her to an apartment that was not scheduled for renovations, but she declined because the rent was $30 more per month and there were no laundry facilities.
“They were each offered alternatives,” Gehl said, “but the only deals they offered these students were bad deals.”
Earlier this year, state human rights officials also charged that Collegiate Crossings “unlawfully perpetuates segregation” by excluding families, African-Americans and elderly tenants who want to live there. The state has since withdrawn its charges and rejoined talks with the developer aimed at settling the complaints.
Attorney Timothy C. Cashmore defended the Kenmore authority, saying a clause in the state’s public housing law qualifies Collegiate Crossings as housing for low-income residents.
Under the law, students at the Cheektowaga development may have incomes of up to $53,280 a year, and rents — which are charged on a per-bed basis — will total $2,480 a month in a four-bedroom apartment.
In contrast, federally sponsored housing projects, like those run by the Kenmore agency in its two buildings on Kenmore Avenue near Colvin Boulevard, have stricter income limits — no more than $20,750 for a single person or $29,650 for a family of four.
The difference stems from a section of the state law that defines a low-income tenant as one whose income “does not exceed six times the rental (including the value or cost to them of heat, light, water and cooking fuel).”
“That’s absolutely ridiculous,” said attorney Michael L. Hanley, who represents low-income clients in major housing cases. “We’ve said for years that formula makes absolutely no sense.” (E-Note: Ya think????)
State records show the “low-income” definition has remained largely intact in the 69 years since the law was passed. The only change has been to increase the multiplier from five to “six times the rental.” As a result, Hanley said: “You could take the fanciest apartment that you can build and that would just make more rich people eligible.”
Kenmore officials refused to be interviewed for this article and referred all questions to Cashmore, who said the housing authority first used the “six times the rent” formula when it provided financing about a decade ago for the 155-unit Hadley Road Village apartments on UB’s North (Amherst) Campus.
However, UB’s rents are lower than those for Collegiate Crossings and are based on the apartment unit, rather than per bed. As a result, when compared on a equal basis, income limits are lower than those at the Cheektowaga apartments.
Mark Chason, the developer of Collegiate Crossings, said he plans to offer $500 discounts for some apartments starting in about 2010, as a way to make them more affordable to students with families.
tdolan@buffnews.com
OK, now at first I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out WHAT the actual, true ulterior motive is for building and pricing these things is?? Let's look at some basic realities and facts here:
- This IS Western New York. Average rents for, say a drawn-and-quartered old house on Ashland or Richmond or Elmwood for a two-bedroom (and actually, quite a large two-bedroom, usually) in a hipster neighbourhood is roughly $650 to $700 per month for a rather nice place!! This "Collegiate Crossings" place??? A two bedroom goes for, like, $800-plus per month.....PER PERSON/PER BEDROOM!!! Generally, MY interpretation of "low-income" is based on ability to pay rent. Lowered rents, rent-control, etc. etc. How the hell did New York State make THAT interpretation of the law, that just because tenants don't have an income of SIX TIMES the monthly rent, that it automatically qualifies for "low-income" status? Leave it to New York State to come up with something THAT bizarre....
- Just WHAT college/university is this proposed complex NEAR to?? If it IS indeed intended for college brats (and I seriously do NOT think that this is the true target demographic of this developer)......they better have a hell of a large car park at this complex, 'cause nothing is within walking distance AT ALL, and thee closest higher education institution (UB - Buffalo/University Heights campus) pretty much involves taking two different buses. Errmmm-humm, like, you're reeeaaallly gonna want to take a Metro Bus from UB-Buffalo to home in Ken-Eggert after dark (4PM in Winter)????.....OK. So what is in Buffalo? Well, UB - Buffalo/University Heights campus (whatever's actually REMAINING and FUNCTIONING of it nowadays), and THAT is thee only school even remotely close to this Collegiate Crossings development!!! Literally, Canisius and Medaille and D'Youville and Buff State are all on the central and far west sides of the city (Ken-Eggert is far EAST side of City). UB Amherst Campus (where, like, 90% of all University of Buffalo classes are held) is almost (seriously) impossible to reach from Kensington and Eggert without a car, and EVEN THEN, with a car, it's 30-plus minutes. Nothing in terms of schools on the east side of Buffalo or in Cheektowaga. And there are one or two tiny colleges in The Southtowns that are about the size of my apartment....but even then, they're a serious haul by car from this proposed development! Uhhh......interesting....so why THAT location (Kensington-Eggert) for a college student-oriented residential complex? Interesting.....
OK....
Here's the scoop.....
Uuuhhh....pretty much, this place is gonna draw really gullible and totally unsuspecting New York City kids whose parents want them out of the house, so they ship them off to UB (or Buff State, or wherever).
To THESE people, $1600 a month for a two bedroom is amazing!!!! CHEAP!!! Shit, they don't care WHERE it is located!
OK....good. But, after about four or five years, word's gonna git around amongst the out-of-town student population, and shortly, it'll be discovered what a TRUE rip-off this "Collegiate Crossings" place really is, how dangerous the neighbourhood is, and how much cooler (and cheaper) shit really is on The Elmwood Strip!!!
So what happens, then?
Then, the Kenmore Housing Authority screams that the complex has less than 50% occupancy, and that they can't make a go of it financially, and now they're going to have to turn it into MARKET RATE CONDOMINIUMS to avoid foreclosure!!
Errmmm-Hum.....bet ya a beer on it! Give this five years after construction is completed. Wait and see.....
Market-Rate Condominiums.....subsidized with low-income Government housing money!
Aren't Capitalism and America wonderful......? HOPEFULLY, the Cheektowaga town council will crush this proposal in the bud!!!!
Gentrifacation.......coming soon to a neighbourhood near you!
- OK....so, anyways, just curious.....
Saw this pic on a bus stop wall in The Hills of Cedar. I don't get it.....I must be feeling pretty thick today. Anyone....anyone.....Bueller......Bueller......?????
....and also, (saw this at the laundrette the other day) who the hell's gonna put a person in the washer?? Especially when they tell you not only to not put a specific person in there, but do not put ANY person in there....
Too weird......
More on Friday (tomorrow).....
-E-
posted by CN250 at 5:00 PM
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