The New York City Economic Development  Corporation has proposed an 850-unit market-rate building over the Bloomingdale Library with an ​unspecified smattering of apartments at unspecified levels of affordability.   An out-of-place tower (over 20 stories above nearby buildings) with market-rate apartments is not what the UWS wants or needs!

But current plans are vague: at best there would be "mandatory inclusionary housing."  That could result in technically affordable apartment rents unaffordable to many of those who need housing here.  According to recent studies, almost half of Manhattan residents spend half of their monthly income on rent.

This large parcel of PUBLIC property should be used for 100% truly affordable housing. The Bloomingdale site is public land, a very limited resource. It should  be used for a public purpose, not for private profit. 

Let's start over now.  The new housing development planned at the Bloomingdale Library site is a significant opportunity to change the course from unaffordable luxury residences  (like the high-rise on 96th and Broadway with a single affordable unit) to inclusive and accessible housing.    

We urge our city planners and decision-makers -- many of whom campaigned on creating "Mitchell-Lama 2.0" -- to use this public land for fully-affordable housing.   It can be Mitchell-Lama, supportive housing, or any other fully-affordable building.  This is their and ours chance.   Let's build what we need.