Astoria community centers to close
Ravenswood, Astoria Houses tenants fear cuts’ impact
By Jeremy Walsh
Comment
Residents and organizers at two of the largest public housing complexes in western Queens are reeling after news that their community centers will close at the beginning of next month.
The New York City Housing Authority is shuttering the centers at the 4,500-resident Ravenswood Houses and the 3,200-resident Astoria Houses as part of a plan to cut a $195.3 million budget shortfall this fiscal year. They are just two of 19 NYCHA centers scheduled for closing in December and January. A third shuttered center in Queens is located in the Latimer Gardens houses in Flushing.
NYCHA spokesman Howard Marder said the plan to close the centers has been discussed at City Council meetings. The closures of the community centers, which are not directly federally funded, are only expected to reduce the agency’s deficit to $160 million, he said.
“We’ve lost $611 million in operating funding from fiscal year 2001 through fiscal year 2008,” he said. “Capital funding cutbacks are another $502 million. That’s a lot of money.”
But the news still outraged Carol Wilkins, president of the Ravenswood Residents Association, who has started circulating petitions to save the center.
“It’s a pathetic, crying shame. I can’t express how heartbroken I am over it,” she said, noting the center hosts senior gatherings, exercise classes, dances and other community events. “You take a community center out of a community, it’s just like plucking the heart out of a person.”
She said young people in her buildings have started dancing in the lobbies in anticipation of losing the community centers.
“Don’t balance the budget on the backs of these children. Do something else,” she said. “I understand there’s an economic imbalance, but we weren’t the ones that caused it.”
Bishop Mitchell Taylor, founder of the nonprofit East River Development Alliance, said the community centers are key to his group’s outreach efforts in the housing projects, including GED classes and youth programs.
“There’s certainly going to be a derogatory impact because of the community center closings,” he said.
But there may be hope for Ravenswood and Astoria. NYCHA is looking for private vendors to keep the centers running.
“We’ve been asked and we’re strongly considering Ravenswood and Astoria,” Taylor said. “But I’m not sure if we’d be able to do both.”
Marder had high praise for Taylor’s organization.
“It would be great if he can become a partner and help out people in that community even more than he’s already done,” Marder said.
Wilkins said she supported the idea.
“Right now? Anything,” she said, noting she would like to see her tenants organization take over the center. But she admitted they would still need the programming from groups like ERDA and the YMCA.
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
The New York City Housing Authority is shuttering the centers at the 4,500-resident Ravenswood Houses and the 3,200-resident Astoria Houses as part of a plan to cut a $195.3 million budget shortfall this fiscal year. They are just two of 19 NYCHA centers scheduled for closing in December and January. A third shuttered center in Queens is located in the Latimer Gardens houses in Flushing.
NYCHA spokesman Howard Marder said the plan to close the centers has been discussed at City Council meetings. The closures of the community centers, which are not directly federally funded, are only expected to reduce the agency’s deficit to $160 million, he said.
“We’ve lost $611 million in operating funding from fiscal year 2001 through fiscal year 2008,” he said. “Capital funding cutbacks are another $502 million. That’s a lot of money.”
But the news still outraged Carol Wilkins, president of the Ravenswood Residents Association, who has started circulating petitions to save the center.
“It’s a pathetic, crying shame. I can’t express how heartbroken I am over it,” she said, noting the center hosts senior gatherings, exercise classes, dances and other community events. “You take a community center out of a community, it’s just like plucking the heart out of a person.”
She said young people in her buildings have started dancing in the lobbies in anticipation of losing the community centers.
“Don’t balance the budget on the backs of these children. Do something else,” she said. “I understand there’s an economic imbalance, but we weren’t the ones that caused it.”
Bishop Mitchell Taylor, founder of the nonprofit East River Development Alliance, said the community centers are key to his group’s outreach efforts in the housing projects, including GED classes and youth programs.
“There’s certainly going to be a derogatory impact because of the community center closings,” he said.
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“We’ve been asked and we’re strongly considering Ravenswood and Astoria,” Taylor said. “But I’m not sure if we’d be able to do both.”
Marder had high praise for Taylor’s organization.
“It would be great if he can become a partner and help out people in that community even more than he’s already done,” Marder said.
Wilkins said she supported the idea.
“Right now? Anything,” she said, noting she would like to see her tenants organization take over the center. But she admitted they would still need the programming from groups like ERDA and the YMCA.
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of yournabe.com.
Jenna wrote on Jan 1, 2010 6:22 PM:
" I agree with you, Winnie,I moved in this community 3 months ago.I only see the mental patients.I never see the normal people in this building.The normal people must be scared of showing their face.If anyone know how to join the tenants association and activities,let me know because I would love to be part of that.The management office close early and the personnel is always too busy to help and inform tenants. "
Brad wrote on Jan 1, 2010 6:29 PM:
" Oh my God, those mentally deranged people are very annoying.Our building used to be clean.They don't clean up after their dogs,and they put paper plates under all the windows.I try to call the office,they always hang up on me.Sometime they talk loud and fight and play music loudly.They don't any respect for their neighbors. "
Gina wrote on Jan 1, 2010 6:42 PM:
" unluckily for me I live in the bad part of the ravenwood building,the one on 34th ave and 24th St.My closest neighbor is very loud and always receive the mental
ly deranged men in her apartment.One of the men sexually abused the sick daughter of my neighbor.They live very close to me and always fight in front of my door.I told the manager and they continue to make more noise.I never see a normal person in my building.That's so sad.I blame the management for that.It's their job to make the building safe for the residents. "
ly deranged men in her apartment.One of the men sexually abused the sick daughter of my neighbor.They live very close to me and always fight in front of my door.I told the manager and they continue to make more noise.I never see a normal person in my building.That's so sad.I blame the management for that.It's their job to make the building safe for the residents. "
Rodrigo wrote on Jan 1, 2010 6:48 PM:
" I left the ravenswood houses in august.I have to thank God for that.I pray that the poor tenants who live there now find their peace.I never see the crazy people when I was there but I never have opportunity to participate in association of tenant.nobody told me about that. "
Dinah wrote on Jan 1, 2010 8:33 PM:
" I don't like the ravenswood houses because the neighbors are too agressive.When they see me they don't hold doors for me even when I am carrying my baby's stroller.All of them act like lunatics.They always look mad.I applied for another development.I want to move to the one in Flushing.My friend live there she is happy.She has good neighbors. "
Tom wrote on Jan 1, 2010 8:41 PM:
" The city should not let money stop them from having resident activities.And in this article I read that they have residents association.I live in the ravenswood building for a while and never heard about residents association.The management personnel don't inform us of nothing.They only sits and collect money.why they don't send us information about this association in the mail? "
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Winnie wrote on Jan 1, 2010 6:10 PM: