MITCHELL-LAMA RESIDENTS COALITIONVol. 13, Issue 4 WEBSITE: www.mitchell-lama.org January 2008

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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGSATURDAY, January 26, 2008

Time: 10:00 a.m. - Noon (Refreshments at 9:30 a.m.)

PLACE: Stryckers Bay Cooperative Community Room 66 West 94th Street. (Eastside of Columbus Ave.)

TRAINS: No. 1 train to 96 St. and Broadway; B or C trains to 96 and Central Park West

BUS: Crosstown M96 to Columbus Avenue

Special Event:CO-OP Workshop

On December 3, 2007, Louise Sanchez passed away. Her friends, family and fellow housing advocates will miss her vibrant personality and passion for working for tenant rights both locally and nationally. Pictures of her life and activities and an obiturary are fea-tured on pages 5, 6 and 7 .

IN MEMORIAM

LOUISE SANCHEZ1924-2007

Page 2 Janurary 2008

JOIN THE MITCHELL-LAMA RESIDENTS COALITION

INDIVIDUAL $10.00 per year DEVELOPMENT 15 cents per apt. ($25 Minimum; $100 Maximum) 2008

Name____________________________________________

Address_________________________Apt._______

City_________________State______________Zip Code___________

Evening Phone_________________Day Phone__________________

Fax___________________E-mail____________________

Development________________Check: Renewal__New Member__

Mail to: MLRC, P.O. Box 20414, Park West Finance Station, N.Y., N.Y. 10025

MLRC fights for you and your right to affordable housing!

Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition, Inc.

Co-chairs: LeeChong JackiePeters

MLRC NEWSLETTER STAFF

Editors in Chief:JackiePeters

Layout:JackiePeters

Co-editors:BerniceLorde KatyBordanaroJudyMontanez

Advertising Manager: BerniceLorde

Circulation:10,000

Articles,letters,andphotographsarewelcome.SendtoMLRC,P.O.Box20414,

ParkWestFinanceStation,NewYork,NY10025VoiceMail:(212)465-2619

UPCOMING EVENTS

GENERALMEMBERSHIP

MEETINGS

Saturday, January 26, 200810:00a.m.-Noon

Stryckers Bay Community Room66 West 93rd Street

Manhattan

Saturday, March 29, 2008Muscians Union Local 802

Saturday, June 21, 2008TBA

*EXECUTIVE BOARDMeetings (Saturdays)

February 9, 2008March 8, 2008

SPECIAL EVENTS

Co-Op WorkshopSaturday, January 26, 2008

Lobbying in the NeighborhoodsMarch 29 to May 2, 2008

*ExecutiveBoardMeetingsareheldatRNAHouse,150-160West96thStreet(betweenColumbusand

Amsterdan).All dates are subject to revision. Please call the voice

mail to confirm (212) 465-2619.

STREET RENAMING FOR

BOB WOOLIS, JIM GARST and DORIS ROSENBLOOM

The Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition and Council member Gale A. Brewer have requested that three streets in Community Board 7 be renamed in honor of Bob Woolis, Jim Garst, and Doris Rosenbloom, longtime residents of CB 7 and activists for social justice and the preservation of Mitchell-Lama housing.

On February 12, 2008 (Tuesday) at 7 PM, Community Board 7’s Transportation Committee will meet to discuss the merits of our request. We are asking that as many admirers of Bob, Jim and Doris’ work come and speak in favor of :

• renaming the northeast side of West 95th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West Robert Woolis Way

• the southwest side of West 94th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues James Garst Way

• the southeast side of West 94th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Doris Rosenbloom Way.

PLEASE call CB 7 at 212 362-4008 for meeting location.

Page 3January 2008

ByMitchBerkowitzAseeminglyon-again-off-againcampaigntoprivatizeCo-opCityis

likeastormcloudthatdarkenstheskyforawhileandthendipsbelowthehorizon–forawhile.PrivatizationwasfirstpromotedopenlysomeyearsagobytheBoardofDirectorsofthecomplexanditshiredmanagementagent,theMarionScottRealEstateManagementCompany.(Twoofthecommunityluminarieswhowerepartoftheefforteitheropenlyorotherwisehavesincebeenindictedforcrimes,thoughnotconnectedtotheprivatizationeffort.Thecommunitydoesnothearfromthemnowaboutprivatizationoranythingelse).“EXPLORING”

Anexpensiveeffortto“explore”theprivatizationofCo-opCity’s15,500apartmentswasinitiatedattheoutsetofthecampaign.Lawyers,andconsultantswerehired,slickpro-privatizationmaterialwaspro-duced,andafterthesteamrollerwasalreadywellunderway--andpaidforbyRiverbay,Co-opCity’scorporateidentity--areferendumto“explore”privatizationwaspresentedtothecommunityandapprovedbya55%to45%voteofthecooperators.

Later,Co-opCity’sconnectiontotheState’sHFAwasseveredwhen,nearlyhalfabilliondollarswasborrowedfromaprivatebanktopayoffCo-opCity’sremainingdebttotheHFAandtofundcapitalimprove-mentprojects.

Carryingcharge(rent)increasesconnectedwiththisbankloanwerecriticizedinareportissuedbytheNewYorkStateInspectorGeneral(9/2007)as“basedonincorrectinformation”giventoresidents.LEAKING MONEY FASTER THAN IT CAN BE BORROWED

ThesameIGreportchargedCo-opCityBoardsandMarionScottManagementwithimpropercontractprocurements,failuretoenforcetimelysubmissionsoffinancialstatementsandproposedbudgets,andrepeatedlyviolatingDHCRandRiverbayby-lawsbyattemptingtoinfluencetheCo-opCityBoardofDirectorsthroughfinancingcandi-datesseekingelectiontotheBoard,byprovidingjobstoRiverbayBoardmembersortheirfriendsandrelatives,andbyfurnishinglesserfavorssuchasticketstosportingevents.

Tencontracts,accordingtotheIG,worthmorethan$45millionwereawardedtoacontractorwithmultipleintegrity-relatedconcerns.TheIGfoundthatin40of47contractstheyexamined,Riverbayviolat-edDHCRorRiverbayrulesandregulationsgoverningcontractprocure-ment.

OneoftheindependentRiverbayBoardmembershasrecentlydis-coveredthatmanagementinputonRiverbaycomputersballoonedpay-mentforplasteringworkandledtooverpaymentofoveraquarterofamilliondollars.Retentionofamanagementcompanywithsucharecordofperformanceproducesthespecterofprivatizationbyforeclosure.

Inthecurrentlyrevivedprivatizationcampaign,theBoardofDirectorsandthemanagementcompanyprofessaneutralstance.However,acommunityorganizationpromotingprivatizationwashastilyrecognizedbytheBoard,whilethegrantingofsimilarrecognitiontotheanti-privatizationgroupwaswithheldforthreeyears;aclue?

CommunitysentimentaboutprivatizationcanbegaugedbythefactthatintheMay,2007Boardelection,fouroutoffivecandidatesoftheanti-privatizationCoalitiontoSaveAffordableHousingwereelected.HOUSING OR SPECULATIVE COMMODITY

TheprivatizationgroupstrictlyavoidsanyreferencetothefactthatMitchell-LamaandCo-opCitywerenotcreatedasspeculativecommod-ities,butasantidotestothefailureoftherealestateindustrytoprovideaffordableanddecenthousing.Mitchell-Lamaisaladderthatlowandmiddleincomepeoplehaveclimbedtoscarce,affordablehousing.Privatizationwillkickawaythatladder.Thepro-privatizationmessagetriestoturnattentionawayfromthedangersoflosingtaxabatement,oflosingSCRIEprotectionforseniors,oflosingeventheminimalsafe-guardsfromfraudandcorruptionprovidedbyDHCRoversight.

Theysteerclearofanyconsiderationoftheimmoralityoflockingoutfuturelowandmiddle-incomefamiliessothatarelativelysmallnumberofcurrentmove-outsandagangofrealestatebountyhunterscanenjoyawindfall.

Stern Residents Fight To Stay Together

ByLeeChongTheSternResidence,a43unitDHCRsupervisedMitchell-Lama

rentalforstaffworkersoftheJewishHomeandHospitalfortheAged,locatedat156West106thStreethasbeeninastrugglefornearlytwoyearswiththeirlandlordandemployer,JewishHomeandHospitalfortheAged(JHH).

Inthesummerof2007,JHHreceivedtheirlanduseapprovalstoteardownthebuildingandhaveadeveloperbuildmixed-use,possiblyluxuryhousingonthesiteoftheSternResidence.ThetenantssupportedJHHthroughouttheprocessbyattendingandspeakingatmeetingsbeforeCommunityBoard#7andtheCityCouncil–allwiththebeliefthatJHHwouldrelocatethemtocomparableandsuitablehousing.Nowheredur-ingthisprocessdidJHHinformanyoftherelevantparties:CommunityBoard#7,theManhattanBoroughPresident’sOffice,theCityPlanningCommissionortheCityCouncilthatSternResidencesisaMitchell-Lamadevelopment.Itseemedanomissionoffactthathashadharshramifica-tions.

Today,thetenantsworkingwiththeirlocalelectedofficials,AssemblymemberDanielO’Donnell,StateSenatorBillPerkins,andCouncilmemberMelissaMark-Viverito,theDukeEllingtonBoulevardNeighborhoodAssociationandtheMitchell-LamaResidentsCoalition(I,astheirtenantadvocate)areseekingasolutionthatwillkeeptheresidentswhole.AsAssemblymemberDannyO’Donnellsaidrecentlytotheowners,“ThereisamoralobligationonthepartofJHHtomakeandkeepthetenantswhole.”

Therehavebeenalotofmisstepsandmiscommunicationbetweenthelandlordandthetenants.Mostrecently,atameetinginAssemblymemberO’Donnell’soffice,theCEOofJHH,AudreyWeineragreedtonullandvoidallsignedleasesuntiltheyhavewrittenapprovalfromDHCR.TheyalsoagreedtohavetheirattorneymeetwithMLRCandthetenantleadershipandreviewwhatisacceptablebehaviorundercurrentDHCRrulesandregulations.

ThetenantshavebeenrelievedofthepressureofsigningaleasethatinessencegivesthemnorighttostayintheirapartmentbeyondDecember31,2008.Atthispoint,theownerhasnotmadeapplicationtoDHCRtodissolvethisMitchell-Lamaproperty.TheownerwastoldthatunderthecurrentcircumstancestheymustadheretotheDCHRMitchell-Lamarules.

Therearecurrently30apartmentsatSternResidenceoccupiedbyactivemembersof1199andretirees(halfoftheretireesworkedforJHHformorethan20years).Mostresidentsare50yearsorolderandhavelivedatSternformorethan10years,someasmanyas37years.

OnethingthetenantshaveintheirfavoristheyhaveonetoughTApresident,MaggieMcClean.Togethertheywillsucceedinattainingwhattheywant–tobekepttogetherasafamilyunderoneroof.

Co-op City Privatization:On Again-Off Again

OBSTACLES TO PRIVATIZATION OF CO-OP CITYThereislanguageintheloanagreementwiththeprivatebankthat

barsprivatizationofCo-opCityforfiveyears,yetobligationtoaprivatefinancialinstitutioncanbecomeasteptowardprivatization.PossibleimpedimentstoprivatizationarecontainedinStateHousingLaw,whichunlesswaived,require:1-areferendum(oncemore)onfundingthepreparationofapreliminaryplanexplainingprivatizing2-extensivepublicmeetingsexaminingaprivatizationproposaland3-approvalofprivatizationbytwothirdsofshareholdersofrecord.TenthousandtwohundredandfortyeightCo-opCityfamilieswouldhavetosay“Yes”toprivatization.ThereisagoodchancethatCo-opCitywillbeatbacktheprivateers,andremainaMitchell-Lamabeaconofmulti-ethnic,moderate-incomehousing.

Mitchell - Lama Residents Coalitionis

Selling Ads to Support

“Lobbying in the Neighborhood” 3rd Annual Spring Breakfast

honoring Louise SanchezCall: (212) 465-2919

Page 4 January 2008

Dues-PaidDevelopments2007/2008

MLRCstrengthcomesfromyou,themembership.SupporttheCoalition’seducational,advocacyandoutreachprogramswithyourmembershipdollars.

IndividualMembership:$10Development-15centsperapt.($25minimum;

$100maximum)Donationsabovethemembershipduesarewelcome.

BERT SAM HOUSES, INC.BETHUNE TOWERSCASTLETON PARKCENTRAL PARK GARDENSCLAYTON APTS.COALITION TO SAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF CO-OP CITYCONCOURSE VILLAGEDENNIS LANE APTS.1199 HOUSING COORPORATIONESPLANADE GARDENSFORDHAM TOWERSJAIME TOWERSJEFFERSON TOWERSKNICKERBOCKER PLAZALINCOLN AMSTERDAM HOUSELINDEN PLAZAMANHATTAN PLAZAMASARYK TOWERSMEADOW MANORMICHELANGELO

PARKSIDE DEVELOPMENT, INC.PRATT TOWERSPROMENADE APTS.RNA HOUSERIVER TERRACERIVERBEND HOUSINGRYERSON TOWERS, INC.CONCERNED TENANTS OF SEA PARKS EASTSKYVIEW TOWERSSOUTHBRIDGE TOWERSSTARRETT CITYSTRYCKERS BAYTIVOLI TOWERSTOWER WESTTRINITY HOUSEVILLAGE EAST TOWERSWASHINGTON SQUARE SOUTH EAST APTS.WESTVIEW APTS.WEST VILLAGE HOUSESWOODSTOCK TERRACE

Ifyourdevelopmenthasnotreceivedaninvoice,pleasecalltheMLRCvoicemail(212)465-2619.LeavethenameandaddressofthePresidentofyourTenantsAssociation,BoardofDirectors,orTreasurerandanin-voicewillbemailed.

SCHUMER SCORES VICTORY IN BID TO SAVE MIDDLE-

CLASS HOUSING AT CASTLETON PARK, CONVINCES HUD TO TAKE FIRST STEPS TO ENSURE AFFORDABILITY OF

BUILDING

FollowingNumerousLetters,CallsandMeetingsBetweenSchumerandHUD,HUDAgreestoApplySection250ofHousingLawtoCastletonPark.Under Section 250, All Rent Changes Must Be Approved by HUD Within Affordability Guidelines, Ownerhsip Changes Must be Agreed to by HUD, and Owners Must Commit to Building Improvements

Schumer:ThisMarksaBigWinforMiddle-ClassHousingOnStatenIsland,ButIWillContinuetoFighttoEnsurethatCastletonParkRemainsAffordablefortheNextGeneration

Followingamonths-longfighttoensuremiddle-classhousingaffordabilitycontinuesonStatenIsland,U.S.SenatorCharlesE.SchumertodayannouncedthathehasconvincedtheU.S.DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment(HUD)toapplySection250oftheNationalHousingActtoCastletonPark,ensuringthecontinuedaffordabilityofthedevelopment.CastletonParkisa454-unitcomplexinSt.GeorgeandoneofonlytwoMitchell-LamadevelopmentsonStatenIsland.UnderSection250,thecurrentownermustsetasidefundingforrehabilitationandrepairsofthebuildings,anyrentincreasesmustbeapprovedbyHUDwithinaffordabilityguidelinesandallpotentialbuyersofthecomplexmustbeapprovedbyHUD.HUDcommittedtoapplyingthestandardfollowingameetingwithSchumerinOctober.

“ThisisaverypositivedevelopmentthatwillpreserveaffordabilityforthefamiliesandseniorsinCastletonPark.HUDhasbeenawelcomepartnerinprotectingmuchofthevanishingmiddle-classhousinginNewYork,andIamproudtoannouncethatHUDhasagreedtocontinuethatworkonStatenIslandbyapplyingtenantprotectionsatCastletonPark,”Schumersaid.“IwillcontinuetoworkwithHUDtoensurethatCastletonParkremainsaffordableforthenextgenerationofStatenIsland’shard-working,middle-classfamiliestomaintaintheirwayoflife.”

Sinceitwasconstructedin1974,CastletonParkhasreliedonavarietyofgovernmentsubsidiestoensurethedevelopment’saffordabilityandupkeep,includingaHUD-insuredmortgage.UnderSection250oftheNationalHousingAct,HUDgenerallycanonlyapprovetheprepaymentofaHUD-insuredmort-gageiftheagencydeterminesthatthehousingisnolongerneededasaffordableinthatcommunity.However,HUDmayalsoallowtheprepaymentofamortgageifthereisaneedforcapitalrehabilitationatacomplex.

SinceCastletonParkisinneedofrepairandrehabilitation,HUDmayapproveaprepayment,butduetotheapplicationofSection250,severaltenantprotectionswillalsobeapplied.First,anyrentincreasesmustbeapprovedbyHUDandfallwithinaffordabilityguidelines.Second,anypotentialbuyermustbeapprovedbyHUD,allowingtenantsandHUDtheopportunitytoexaminetherecordofpotentialbuyersandtodetermineiftheyhaveandwillmaintaintheaffordabilityandlivabilityofthecomplex.Finally,anyownerunderSection250musteitherescrowortakeoutalineofcreditfornecessaryrepairsofrehabilita-tionofunits.ForCastletonPark,anownerwouldberequiredtoput$15,000perunitintorepairs,or$6.8millionforthecomplex.

“BecauseoftheimpressiveactivismofCastletonParkresidents,HUDhaslaidoutablanketofprotectionsthatwillpreserveaffordabilityandprovidemuch-neededpeaceofmindinthisholidayseasontoallwholivethere,”saidSchumer.UnderSection250,anyprepaymentapplicationwillhavetobeconsideredfor150days,givingSchumerandthetenantsanopportunitytoworkwithHUDtodeterminetheaffordabilityguidelinesforanypotentialrentincreases.WhileHUDmaintainsthatrentincreasescouldbeapprovedatamonthlyrateof30%of80%ofareamedianincome,Schumerwillcontinuetopushthatstandardsbesetat30%of60%ofareamedianincome.

SchumerwillalsousethetimetoworkwithHUDtodeterminethesuitabil-ityoftheproposedbuyer,LarryGluckofStellarManagement.WhileMr.Gluckhadalreadysubmittedpapersforprepayment,Schumerandthetenantsarecon-cernedathistroublingrecordrunningotheraffordablehousingbuildings.DuringMr.Gluck’stenureasCastleton’sbuildingmanagersince2006,thebuildinghasfaileditsphysicalinspectionforthefirsttimeinyears,andjustthismonth,ten-antsreceivedanoticethatthegasbillwasnotpaid,afailurethatcreatesneedlessdreadduringthewinterseason.Mr.Gluckisalsoreportedtohavenumerousout-standingcodeviolationsontheMitchell-Lamabuildingsthathehaspurchasedinthelastseveralyears.

SchumerhasbeenaleaderinthefighttosaveCastletonParkbeginninginAprilwhenhejoinedtenantsandactiviststoannouncethathewouldbeurg-ingHUDtorejectanybuyoutsthatwouldthreatentheaffordabilityofCastletonPark.Sincethattime,Schumerhaswrittennumerousletters,metwithseniorHUDofficialsandspokenwithHUDSecretaryAlphonsoJacksontourgeHUDtomaintaintheaffordableunitsonStatenIsland,whichhassufferedfromahousingcrunchduetothepopulationboomandrisingrealestateprices.

Get Ready

to Lobby in Your Neighborhood.

It is not too early to gear up for the lobby effort that the Mitchell - Lama Residents Coalition will kick off at our March 29th General Memberhip meeting.

Page 5January 2008

Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition Mourns One Of Its Leaders

Louise Sanchez 1924-2007ByJayeMurraywithBerniceLordeandJackiePeters.

LouiseRebeccaRobertsSanchezdiedMondayDecember3,2007,atage83.Sheissurvivedbytwochildren,LisaandVictor,fivegrandchildrenandonegreat-granddaughter.MsSanchez’sdeathleavesavoidnotonlyinherfamilyandfriendsbutalsointheMitchellLamaResidentsCoalition(MLRC),wheresheservedasco-chair.Ms.JackiePeters,afellowCoalitionco-chair,stated,“Louise’ssignaturefocuswastobuildanorganizationfromthebottomup,empoweringthemembers/tenantstofindthestrengthandresourceswithintheirrankstomeettheirneeds.”

Ms.SanchezwasbornLouiseRebeccaDronsickJune12,1924,intheBronx.ShegraduatedfromEvanderChildsHighSchoolandattendedRussellSageCollegeinupstateNewYork.Herpoliticalactivismbeganatanearlyageandcontinueduntilherdeath.AlthoughshelivedmostofherlifeinNewYork,specifically,theBronx,heradvocacyterritorywasanyplaceshebelievedtherewas“socialinjustice.”

Ms.SanchezjoinedtheCoalitioninthe1990’s.MLRCsponsoredannualbustripstoAlbany,NewYorktolobbyelectedoffi-cials.Oneyear,Louise’stalentstoorganizeandcoordinatewerefullydisplayedwhenshearrangedacaravanof16busloadsoftenantsfromMitchell-Lamadevelopmentsthroughoutthefiveboroughs.Eachbusloadwaswellinformedandreadiedtomeetwiththelegislators.“Louisewasabletoarticulatetheimportantissuesinamannerthatallpeoplecouldunderstand.Shecouldbe impressive in the moment,” saidJackiePeters,withasmileandachuckle.

YejidePeters,aformermemberoftheMLRCexecutiveboarde-mailed,“Louisewasapioneer,awomanwhospokehermind,livedherbeliefs,andworkedtirelesslyforthethingsshebelievedin.Hercommitmentstoworking-classstruggles,eco-nomicjustice,andhousingrightswereacentralpartofherlife.Shedefiedtheexpectationstheworldhadforwomeninherday,daringtobeanactivist,andeducator,andanorganizer.”

Despiteprolongedillness,Louisecontinuedtowork.Ms.LeeChong,whochairedtheManhattanBoroughPresident’sMitchell-LamaTaskForcesaid,“LouisewasatthefirstmeetingcalledinJanuary1999andwasattheverylastoneIchairedinDecember2005.Louisewasanactivememberandsometimesatoddswithothermembersofthetaskforce.However,shewasamoststaunchadvocateforMitchell-LamaandHUDtenants,neverwaveringfromherbeliefthattenantshavearighttostayintheirhomes.”

Ms.ChongsubsequentlyjoinedtheMLRCasaprivatecitizenandlaterbecameoneofitco-chairs.Sheofferedfurtherrecol-lectionsofLouise:“Onmanyoccasions,sheandIwereinvitedtospeakatMitchell-Lamatenants’associationmeetings-fromHarlemtotheLowerEastSide.Andtowardtheend,withhershoppingcartholdingheroxygentank,we’dboardthebustoLand’sEndonthelowereastsidesowecouldrallythetenantsandgivethemsupportandinformation.IfthereisonethingyouwanttosayaboutLouise,itisthatshewasatroupertotheveryend.Advocatingforlowandmoderate-incometenantswasherlifeblood.Itiswhatmayhavegivenherthestrengthtocontinueforaslongasshedid-amasterfighterfortherightsoftheunderdog!Butboy,didsheandBob(Woolis)lovetodisagree!”

LouiseSanchezwaspassionateandforcefuloneverylevelofheradvocacy,fromherco-foundingofTenantsPAC(PoliticalActionCommittee)in1997;memberoftheManhattanBoroughPresidentTaskForce;presidentofNAHT(NationalAllianceofHUDTenants);toherco-chairleadershipinMLRC(Mitchell-LamaResidentsCoalition).In2002,aspresidentofNAHT,Ms.SanchezspokeonaffordablehousingpreservationbeforetheU.S.SenateSubcommitteeonHousingandTransportation.Shereceivedmanyhonorsfromnumerousorganizations.ShewasequallyproudofaNewYorkStateResolutionwhickcommendedheractivismandanawardfromNAHTforher“lifetimecontributiontothetenantmovement.”

Ms.BerniceLorde,anexecutiveboardmemberandfinancialsecretaryofMLRCsaid,“Themottoofourorganizationis,wefightforyourrighttoaffordablehousing,LouiseSanchezwasthepersonificationofourmotto.”

AMemorialservicecelebratingthelifeofMs.SanchezwasheldDecember9,2007atGoddardRiversideCommunityCenterontheUpperWestSide.Relatives,friends,NewYorkCitycouncilmemberGailBrewer,andManhattanBoroughPresidentScottStringerhonoredandrememberedLouise.MLRCofficersreceivedmanye-mailsandmessagesfromcityandstatelead-ers,membersoftenantandhousingorganizations,extendingtheircondolencesandremembrances.

Whencontactedforthisarticle,ManhattanBoroughPresidentScottStringerstated,“WelostagreatNewYorkerwiththepassingofLouiseSanchez.IwasprivilegedtoknowLouiseasco-chairoftheMitchell-LamaResidentsCoalitionandasakeymemberofmyMitchell-LamaTaskForce.Louisewasamentor,afriend,andaninspirationtomeandmanyothers.Shewillbedearlymissed.”

TheMitchell-LamaaffordablehousingcommunityisstillreelingfromthelossofBobWoolis(December2006),aco-chairwithMs.SanchezatMLRCandMr.JimGarst(alsoDecember-2006),aleaderoftheMitchell-LamaCouncilwhichisaMitchell-Lamaco-oporganization.

TheAnnualMLRCBreakfastthisMay2008willhonorMs.Sanchez.

January2008

January2008

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ByFERNANDASANTOSPublished:December10,2007

OnJune6,MerylFenster,aretiredpublicschoolteacher,arrivedhometofindaletterfromherlandlordtapedtoherfrontdoor.Itsaidthatherbuilding—thelastoneontheUpperWestSidetooffersubsidizedrentalapartmentsunderthestate’sMitchell-Lamapro-gram—wasbeingsoldtoaprivatedeveloper.Ms.Fensterhaslivedinthebuilding,knownasTrinityHouse,for30years.“ThewholeideaforMitchell-Lamawastoenablemiddle-classandworking-classpeopletostayinManhattan,whichwasawonderfulthing,”Ms.Fenster,65,saidyesterday.“Butnoonecaresanymore.Everythingisaboutmakingmoneythesedays.”

TrinityHouse,onWest92ndStreetbetweenAmsterdamandColumbusAvenues,wasbuiltin1968bytheTrinitySchool,aprivateinstitutionthatoccupiesthefirstthreefloorsandchargestuitionofupto$30,000ayear.TheletteronMs.Fenster’sdoorexplainedthattheschoolhaddecidedtosellthebuildingto“concentrateitsresourcesandexpertiseonitscoremission,”andassuredresidentsthattherewouldbenochangeinthe“qualityofthebuildingservices.”

“We’renotinthebusinessofbeinglandlords,”MylesAmend,directorofdevelopmentandalumnirelationsattheschool,saidinaninterviewyesterday.“Ourbusinessiseducation.”

ButforMs.Fensterandmanyofherneighbors,thesaleofTrinityHouseisunsettling—aprelude,theybelieve,tothecreationofthekindofupscalehousingthatfewofthemcouldafford.Morethanadozenofthebuilding’stenantsstagedaprotestrallyoutsidetheschoolyesterday,chanting,“Don’tsell,saveourhomes,”andholdingsignsthatread:“TeachbyExample:Don’tSellOut.”

“Thisisnotaboutindividualfortunes,”saidJamesPaul,co-chairmanoftheTrinityHouseTenantsAssociation.“Thisisaboutpreserv-ingaffordablehousingintheneighborhood.”

ThestateMitchell-Lamaprogramwascreatedin1955toencouragetheconstructionoflower-incomehousing.Developersagreedtochargebelow-marketratesforrentalsandco-oppurchasesinreturnfortaxbreaksandgovernment-sponsoredloans.After20or25years,ownersareallowedtoleavethehousingprogrambypayingoffthelow-interestmortgage.Inrecentyears,withtherentalmarketsurging,manyofthemhavedonejustthat.

InitsownlettertoTrinityHousetenants,thedeveloper,PembrokePropertiesInc.,saidthatoncethesalewascomplete,itwouldapplytowithdrawthebuildingfromtheMitchell-Lamaprogramandturn161ofits200unitsintorent-stabilizedapartments.(Theschoolwillretainownershipof39unitsnowleasedtosomeofitsteachers.)ThetermsofthesalemustbeapprovedbythefederalDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment,whichguaranteesmortgagesundertheprogram,andthecity’sDepartmentofHousingPreservationandDevelopment,whichoversees81localMitchell-Lamabuildings,includingTrinityHouse.

Inaseparatelettertoelectedofficials,PembrokewrotethatitsultimategoalwastoconverttheapartmentsatTrinityHouseintocon-dominiums,whichwouldbeofferedtocurrenttenantsatabelow-marketprice.Tenantswhocouldnotaffordtobuywouldbeallowedtocontinuerentingtheirapartments,thelettersaid,butoncethoseunitswerevacated,thedevelopercouldrenovateandsellthematmarketprice.

AttheLeaderHouse,at100West93rdStreet,aformerMitchell-LamarentalbuildingPembrokeboughtseveralyearsago,arefur-bishedtwo-bedroomunitislistedfor$1.2million.

“Thereareallkindsofhouseholdsinourbuilding,allkindsofbackgrounds,andit’sashameifthisdiversityislost,”saidEricWeisberg,54,whohaslivedatTrinityHousewithhiswifeandsonsince1981.

Therallycoincidedwiththeschool’sannualholidaycelebration,forcingparentsandstudentstowalkpastalonglineofprotestingten-antstogetinside.Manyoftheparentssaidtheydidnotknowanythingaboutthesale;onewomantoldhersonthat“thepeopleareupsetbecausetheschoolwantstoselltheirhome,”butsherefusedtospeaktoreporters,asdidseveralotherparents.

Mr.Amend,oftheTrinitySchool,saidthattheschoolhadnevermademoneyfromitsownershipofTrinityHouseand,attimes,sub-sidizeditsoperation.Foryears,headded,theschoolhasbeenlookingtosellthebuilding,whichwasconstructedaspartofadealwiththecityandotherentitiestoallowfortheschool’sexpansionandcontributetotheredevelopmentoftheUpperWestSide,thenamoreunstableneighborhood.

“Webelievewe’vefoundabuyerthathasthebestinterestsofthetenantsinmind,”hesaid.“Andwedonotbelievethatthetenantswillsufferasaresultofthesale.”

AspokesmanforPembrokecouldnotbereachedforcommentyesterday.Theschoolstandstomake$24millionfromthebuilding’ssale,andthemoneywillbeaddedtoitsendowmenttoprovidemorefinan-

cial-aidopportunities,improveitscurriculumandincreaseteachers’salaries,Mr.Amendsaid.Hesaidthattheschoolhadnoplanstoexpand,asitdidintheearly1990s,whenittriedtotakeoverthetenants’communityroomandfourth-floorrecreationarea.Thetenantsrevolted,andtheschooleventuallylostthefight.

“Everyonesaidbackthenthatwewouldneverwin,butwedidwin,”saidMr.Paul,ofthetenants’association.“Wefeelthatwecanwinthisbattle,too.Ourcauseisjustandourtenantsareunited.”

NYTimes,http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/nyregion/10trinity.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

NotetheNYTimesmisstatementthatthisisthelastMitchell-LamarentalontheUpperWestSide.WhileitisthelastoneinGaleBrewer’sdistrict(whichendsonthesouthsideof96thSt.),TowerWestonthenorthsideof96thandWestviewon97thStreetremain.WestviewisfightingabuyoutasIwritethis. Sue Susman

School Moves to Sell Its Middle-Class Housing