Facebook icon Twitter icon Forward icon
NYC Notes
June 29, 2012

Fifth and Pacific Foundation Empowers Cypress Hills Women to Combat Domestic Violence

For women living in high crime neighborhoods, there are huge psychological and practical barriers to finding stable and living-wage employment.  The challenges get even more complicated when crimes are occurring in the home.  With the support of the Fifth and Pacific Foundation, LISC NYC and the LISC Community Safety Initiative are working with our local partner, the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) to devise a model for confronting and overcoming domestic violence – a key barrier to low-income women’s economic self-sufficiency.  The Women’s Empowerment Initiative equips women day care providers and clients in Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation’s Family Day Care Network to be ambassadors for public safety in their own community, with training and support from the District Attorney’s office, CHLDC staff, and other local resources.

Read a full article about this initiative on our website >>>

In Bed-Stuy, PS 3 Students Dig Dirt, Learn Healthy Eating

For elementary-school students of Bedford-Stuyvesant’s PS3, sunny days this spring have meant a chance to dig in the dirt, weed, water, and watch seedlings grow.  This opportunity to connect with nature and learn how food grows exists thanks to the PS 3 Garden and Health Ambassador School Program – an initiative developed by LISC NYC, the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, and Adopt-A-Farmbox, to combat high rates of diabetes and obesity and expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables in the neighborhood.  Funded by Kraft Food Foundation, the program aims to help students in grades 3-5 at PS 3/Bedford Village School make healthier eating choices and understand where their food comes from. In February students built raised garden beds and a greenhouse with the help of the broader community, including teachers and the local block association.  In April, Adopt-a-Farmbox began gardening, cooking and nutrition instruction with 25 students.  The program includes indoor and outdoor gardening activities; a curriculum that teaches students healthy diet, food preparation and environmental stewardship; and workshops to coach teachers in sustaining the after-school gardening and nutrition program in subsequent years.

Proud New Home Owners Cut Ribbon at Glenmore Grove Condos

Joyous new home owners were joined by elected and public officials, LISC and other organizations on June 14th, to celebrate the opening of Glenmore Grove, a 12-unit affordable condominium development.  Developed by Cypress Hills Local Development Corp (CHLDC), the project has made home ownership a reality for moderate-income community residents – many of whom have struggled and saved for years for this opportunity.  Isabel Ramos, single mother to 14-year old daughter Sarah, commented “My daughter is my dream of life and this is my dream of security.” The high-quality construction includes green and energy-efficiency elements such as bamboo floors, Energy Star appliances, and materials made from recycled content.  LISC provided a $98,000 line of credit to CHLDC to cover predevelopment costs; the project also received HOME funding from the NYC Dept of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) , State Affordable Housing Corporation funds via the Housing Partnership, and a grant from the office of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

Urban Institute Cites LISC’s Building Sustainable Communities Approach

The Urban Institute recently released a research paper titled, “Building Successful Neighborhoods,” in which its authors explore the ongoing debate surrounding the most effective approaches to rebuilding fractured urban regions. In addition to summarizing the existing information on the subject, it pinpoints the areas that have not yet been examined and presents detailed suggestions for further research. This publication adds an interesting layer of practicality and forward movement to the often hypothetical discussions about successful community development. The paper also praises LISC and its Building Sustainable Communities Initiative for recognizing the multifaceted nature of the issues in these neighborhoods and addressing them fully, calling LISC’s work, “the most expansive implementation of this approach at this point.”

>>> Download and read the paper

 

Construction Starts on Two Key Affordable Housing Projects

Both the South Bronx and East New York, Brooklyn will soon reap the benefits of projects – one rehabilitation, and one new construction – that will combat NYC’s affordable housing shortage and greatly enhance their respective communities. LISC provided financing, equity investment, and technical assistance for both projects.  The 145-unit Borinquen Court, built nearly 40 years ago under the Dept of Housing and Urban Development’s Sec 202 elderly housing program, had deteriorated under prior ownership when HUD moved to foreclose in 2009.  With acquisition and pre-development financing from LISC, the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing (WSFSSH) purchased the building in early 2011 following foreclosure, and is now undertaking a comprehensive, $11 million rehabilitation.  Work will include new windows, roofs, boiler, flooring, façade work, elevator upgrades, and kitchen and bathroom upgrades in individual apartments.  The NYC Housing Development Corporation (NYCHDC) is providing tax-exempt bond financing; the National Equity Fund is contributing a total of $9.3 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit and State Brownfield Credit equity.  Cypress Village is the 29-unit new construction project, being developed by Cypress Hills Local Development Corp (CHLDC) on vacant and blighted land.  LISC provided CHLDC with a $98,000 pre-development loan for the project; permanent financing sources include an $8.4 million tax credit equity investment by the NEF, allocations of NSP and HOME funds from the City’s housing department, and a loan from the Community Preservation Corporation.

DEP and LISC Prep Housing Managers for Coming Water/Sewer Changes

On May 14th, more than 30 staff members from 23 CDCs and property management firms gathered at LISC NYC to hear from NYC Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials about important upcoming changes in water/sewer charges.  Deputy Commissioner Joe Singleton, with staff members Warren Liebold and Albert Kramer, presented information on the transition from frontage billing – which ends as of July 1, 2012 – and on the Multifamily Conservation Program.  DEP also presented “My DEP Account,” DEP’s new online tool for tracking water consumption for individual accounts.  Water/sewer charges have constituted one of the fastest-growing cost items in affordable housing projects’ operating budgets in recent years; so getting a handle on consumption and opportunities for savings is key.


>>> Read more about transition from frontage and other info: