I am scheduling a meeting with tenants who reside at 100 Manhattan Ave for Wednesday, November 1 at 8PM at 100 Manhattan Ave to discuss the proposed tax breaks offered to the building owners. This complex provides affordable housing to tenants. The complex is older - and the building needs capitol improvements. Some tenants have expressed concern about the proposed tax breaks.
At yesterdays Town Board work session Board members discussed a requirement to tie the existence of tax breaks to capitol improvements. There should be a permanent reserve so we know that the maintenance will take place as needed. Previous pilot agreements, according to tenants, promised capitol improvements. But- these promises were not kept. Will there be a maintenance capitol improvement account?
I think that a meeting is important to clarify what's in the final version of the proposal and to hear from those most impacted by the decisions.
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You should include 90 Manhattan ave. and 33 oak street residents also.
CAPITOL improvements in Greenburgh, NY?!
In stating, "I am scheduling a meeting with tenants ..." I hope that you mean that someone from a Town department is respresenting, and not the Supervisor. Something like this is important, of course, but the Supervisor needs to focus on big picture management and delegation of individual projects. That's why there's a Tax Department, a Community Development/Planning and Zoning department, a Building department, etc. Having the Supervisor attend such a meeting may be "nice," but it's certainly not expected or efficient management.
The meeting will also be for residents of 90 Manhattan, 33 Oak Street. This meeting is scheduled during my free time (in the evening-when I probably should be home helping my daughter with her homework!). The reason why it's important for me to be at the meeting is because the Town Board will be voting on the tax break package later in the month. I want to hear from the people impacted by the project. I will invite appropriate town staff to the meeting. But - this is really an opportunity for town board members to hear from the tenants, before we vote on a matter that will impact their lives.
ARe the tax breaks only for Town taxes, or do they effect the School Taxes also?
The tax agreements would impact the school district as well.
Having a meeting on Manhattan Avenue is a good idea. Maybe, town officials should meet in a public session with the school district so residents of Central 7 can discuss whether the school tax breaks make sense for the school district.
If the rents of tenants are going up to pay for the improvements - why should tenants have to pay the increases every year for life? Wouldn't it make more sense for the tenants to stop paying the increases after the improvements are paid for?
I am a tenant at 100 Manhattan Ave and I am very angry at the way this town board is allowing the management of these buildings to continue to receive tax abatements and still ignore their contractual agreements.(no repairs to apts)no consistant exterminator service)etc.(Cora Cary does not speek for us,our Lawyers do.We are not being treated fairly.WE VOTE TOO.
What is the financing on this property? If it is a HUD mortgage or Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac there are required annual escrows ($ per unit) for maintenance and capital reserves.
Why can"t the Manager/Landlord of these buildings at Manhattan Ave be held responsible for the necessary repairs and upgrades, seeing how they are still under their original tax abatement contract.Where did the money saved on these taxes go,and why is the town board not trying to keep these rents affordable?What are tax abatements for,does anybody care? The Town Attorney should.
The Town Board should treat residents of Manhattan Ave no differently than they would treat residents who live in the wealthier parts of the town. Show tenants who reside at 100 & 90 Manhattan Ave and at 33 Oak Street some respect.
Will every penny of tax breaks be used for capitol improvements-repairs or will the tax breaks make the owners of 90 Manhattan, 100 Manhattan and 33 Oak Street richer?
Dear Demleader,
It is not only the tenants being affected. Any program which gives a tax break affects all greenburgh taxpayers. We have to ask not only is the tax break going to achieve its objectives (capital and maintencance) which apparently the earlier one did not, but also how do we justify it financially.
I think it makes sense to provide the landlord with the funds so repairs can be made. I do not believe that the landlord should be given a tax break so he can become rich. I hope that the Town Board will make sure that 100% of the tax breaks given go directly towards maintenance. Maybe, the town should require the landlord to provide the Town Board with an annual maintenance repair budget. Tax breaks to pay for these could be voted on annually. What do you think?
Before tax reductions are given to the landlord let's take a look at the tax rate. Will the Town Board be approving a tax increase for next year for the rest of us?
I don't understand what the town Bard and the town attorney are doing. We the tenants at 100, 90 Manhattan Ave and 33 Oak St voted on this July of 2006 in the presence of Diana Juettner, Frances Sheehan, Steve Bass and Tim Lewis our town attorney and told them that we did not want the town to give any tax abatement. Therefore, why are we doing this again. Also, why didn't the town attorney & Board advise our representatives at our buildings and our Attorneys,of whom we hired to represent us that they were having a special meeting with Mark Soja (Marathon Group)who is trying to purchase these buildings & Corey Carey on Tuesday of this past week to discuss and to pass this tax abatement. Cora Carey does not live in these buildings but is on the Greenburgh/Oak St Housing Board who would gain alot of money to administer these vouchers year after year if the Town Board gives this tax abatement. Who call for this meeting on Tuesday 10/16 any how ? Don't we as tenant's have rights. Why don't you listen to our Attorneys not Corey Carey, who seems to have a personal agenda.
Wow, this blog is really helpful.
If the tenants are agsinst the tax abatement, then we must ask our elected officials what is going on.
The only reason to have tax abatements is to help tenants -- NOT LANDLORDS --
I have just read the blog comments about the tax breaks. Although the other Town Board members expressed a desire to vote on this matter at Wednesday's Town Board meeting (October 25 at 7:15 PM) the rules provide a member of the Board with the opportunity to hold it over till the next meeting. I have advised the Board that I will exercise my right to hold over the vote till the November 8th meeting. I have called a meeting for November 1 at 8 PM at 100 Manhattan Ave and have invited the entire Town Board to attend this meeting to meet with tenants. I have also invited the applicant to attend as well.
I hope the Town Bd televises the meeting they will have with tenants on November 1st. If the tenants don't like the agreement why should the town increase my taxes?
This is a question to the entire Town Board. Is there a current tax abatement in effect now? When will it expire? Who oversees this abatement? Who is the Management of this Complex? Are they doing a good job? If the current management is not doing a good job then the town board should look at the current tax abatement and decide whether to continue this abatement or discontinue it now.
The people who live on Manhattan Ave and Oak Street should be asked for their views.
Why should we as tenants Have our rents increase two times or more for the up keep of these building when this building should have been taken care of over the years that Montrose Management and The Fairview Manhattan Ave Association have been receiving tax abatements and monies from Hud to take care of these buildings for the upkeep. So Where is the monies that they have and are still receiving for the maintenance of our buildings from Hud and from the Town of Greenburgh. They have not painted our apartments in the last 20 years or more.
Unfortunately we are living in a very capitalist society. As a resident of 100 Manhattan Avenue for the last 5 years, I fear the rent increase. I am a single mother, full-time employee and college student. I can not afford a large rent increase. I do agree that the property needs better maintenance and care, as the buildings are quite old, however I don't feel that the building needs several million $$$$ in repair and renovations.
We need to have an outside agency evaluate the premises and give the residents a summary of the repairs needed and the actual cost. The current landlord is out to make a quick deal and the the would-be new owner is looking to increasing the rent and making affordable housing a thing of the past in Greenburgh.
The area is prime realty. All the capital improvments in downtown White Plains, also play a factor in the decision to sell the property. People are moving out of NYC and moving into Westchester. Greenburgh/White Plains and surrounding areas are prime locations due to the easy commute into the city, the corparations located in the area, retail businesses and also some of the best schools and hospitals are located here as well.
Overall I hope that for once the local policitians consider the working class, elderly and disabled residents of Greenburgh. We too vote for our elected officals. We stood by you and now it's time to stand by us!
F.Davis
Manhattan Avenue Resident
dear ms davis:
capitalism has its faults but what is the true alternative? instead of bemoaning your fate, why dont the tenants explore buying the building and running it as a not for profit co-op? exploring your options makes more sense then criticizing our economic system. and don't count on the politicians - count on yourself. thats what america is about. join us.
Smart cookie, since when have working for hard, getting and education and votiing "bemoaning" isn't that the "American Way" to obtain the "American Dream" realistically for some it's a Dream Deferred:)
The Town has taken the Waterwheel property, unused land located in Ardsley, off of the auction list. Ardsley apparently wants the land for low-income property. If that is true, residents of unincorporated Greenburgh should be first on the list for apartments.
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