Housing Issues: How Can We Help Ourselves Stay Put?
There was a time, not so very long ago, when you moved above W. 96th Street and people thought you lived in a hinterland. And now hardly a week goes by without a postcard from a realtor urging me to sell "because there is no inventory."
As with almost everything in life, it evokes Bob Dylan for me:
As with almost everything in life, it evokes Bob Dylan for me:
| People are crazy. Times are strange. I'm locked in tight, I'm outta range. I used to care, but things have changed. |
Well, I still care. But times are indeed strange. And things have changed. And one of those things is something everyone can relate to: it's the roof over your head and just plain holding on to it.
In this boomtime for real estate, where each news cycle seems to bring a surreal story about micro-apartments or the stream of billionaire foreign investors into our local economy, the Block Association has received so many queries and concerns from members on a wide array of housing issues that it is time to bring some of this dialogue to the surface. Members are concerned about harassment of senior residents by landlords eager to see them push on, zoning variances allowing increased construction height, and a landmarking process that seems to have stalled out. The upcoming March 11th Annual Meeting will be devoted to these topics and a discussion with local policymakers.
A charming feature of this annual meeting is the recognition of neighbors of longstanding. Do you know someone who has lived here for 50+ years? He or she qualifies! Please contact Hedy Campbell and let her know.
But that gets me to thinking: who among us will be here 50 years from now? Look around because none of us is immune to the market's vagaries. It's a sobering thought. And one worth discussing together.
The meeting is on Wednesday, March 11th at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Marseilles, 230 West 103rd Street. We'll be electing our board as well, so come on out! The flyer is below.
For more information about this event contact info@w102-103blockassn.org.
By Caitlin Hawke
In this boomtime for real estate, where each news cycle seems to bring a surreal story about micro-apartments or the stream of billionaire foreign investors into our local economy, the Block Association has received so many queries and concerns from members on a wide array of housing issues that it is time to bring some of this dialogue to the surface. Members are concerned about harassment of senior residents by landlords eager to see them push on, zoning variances allowing increased construction height, and a landmarking process that seems to have stalled out. The upcoming March 11th Annual Meeting will be devoted to these topics and a discussion with local policymakers.
A charming feature of this annual meeting is the recognition of neighbors of longstanding. Do you know someone who has lived here for 50+ years? He or she qualifies! Please contact Hedy Campbell and let her know.
But that gets me to thinking: who among us will be here 50 years from now? Look around because none of us is immune to the market's vagaries. It's a sobering thought. And one worth discussing together.
The meeting is on Wednesday, March 11th at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Marseilles, 230 West 103rd Street. We'll be electing our board as well, so come on out! The flyer is below.
For more information about this event contact info@w102-103blockassn.org.
By Caitlin Hawke
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