Some Public Housing Residents Skeptical Of Luxury Developer Lease Plan
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Some residents of the city's public housing say they're skeptical about a plan that would lease housing project land to luxury developers.
The New York City Housing Authority says it wants to lease playgrounds, community centers and parking lots to private developers, who would then use the space to build high-rise apartment buildings.
Officials say the plan would generate money that the city would put back into public housing to pay for repairs and upgrade deteriorating buildings.
But some residents don't believe the money would be reinvested, and are worried about losing space.
"Where we going to take the kids to, if they move the parks away?" said one.
"Why haven't they fixed this place up with the money we have?" said a second. "Why are they going to take away what we have and make some luxury places? I disagree with all that."
"You can't take away space," said a third. "That's bumping people out. That's gentrification."
The housing authority says that it's seen a drastic decline in Congressional funding, and says this plan would bring much-needed revenue.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg calls it a creative idea, but says he is not sure there would be enough interest from developers to make it happen.