By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — The developer of a controversial high rise complex in Washington Heights said he is willing to tighten income requirements for the project’s "affordable housing" component.
Henry Wollman, chair of Quadriad Realty Partners, said he is willing to lower the maximum income for affordable units to $72,000, down from $108,000 that was previously planned for the development at Broadway and W. 190th Street.
"We think in the long run that it is better for a community to have a slightly higher income level in the mix," Wollman said. "But we are ready to listen to the community about its needs."
The developer is offering to include 171 units of affordable housing if he wins approval to build four towers ranging in height from 28 to 37 stories.
If the four tower plan is nixed, Quadriad would likely move forward with a plan to build two market-rate 22- and 28-story towers, which it does not need approval to build.
Wollman spoke on the matter during Community Board 12’s joint Housing and Human Services and Health and Environment committee meeting on Thursday evening.
Wollman assured the crowd that the affordable apartments, which would be open to families of four with a minimum income of $36,000, would remain "affordable into perpetuity."
In the wake of large-scale affordable housing complexes being converted into market rate homes, as in the case of Mitchell Lama housing throughout the city and Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town downtown, board members questioned his ability to maintain the affordability in the future.
"We intend to create a separate corporation to own the affordable housing," Wollman said. "That corporation would not be restricted by its bylaws to not be able to increase rents, except for cost of living increases."
Despite the promises to make the housing more affordable to area residents, meeting attendees continued to express frustration about the project.
""We don’t want them at all," said Vadim Moldovan, joining a chorus of critical residents and board members.
"You have a 21st century type project planned here," CB12 member Obie Bing said. "I’d like to make sure you have a 21st century infrastructure to support it."
Wollman said Quadriad is prepared to do a range of tests before construction would begin, including a traffic study and an environmental test of the grounds.
Quadriad will continue to discuss the plans and its proposal to refurbish nearby Gorman Park and a dilapidated tunnel leading to the 1 train subway station at another joint CB12 meeting between the Parks and Cultural Affairs and Traffic and Transportation committees on Monday, June 6, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The meeting will be held at the board's offices at 711 W. 168th Street.
