Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

'Preservation Party' to Benefit Housing Causes in Sunset Park

By Nikhita Venugopal | October 14, 2014 1:19pm
 Section 8 buildings on 51st Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues in Sunset Park.
Section 8 buildings on 51st Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues in Sunset Park.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Nikhita Venugopal

SUNSET PARK — A local neighborhood nonprofit is throwing a “preservation party” to help save both affordable and historic housing stock in Sunset Park Saturday.

The Sunset Park Landmarks Committee, a group that has been working to preserve historic buildings in the neighborhood, will host a fundraiser to benefit two housing causes in the neighborhood on Oct. 18 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Irish Haven, located at 5721 Fourth Ave., said Lynn Tondrick, a core member of the nonprofit.

The first involves a push to preserve federally subsidized residential buildings by low-income tenants and housing advocates who fear the loss of affordable housing if the buildings’ owner opts out of the government program, known as Section 8.

The second cause is the Sunset Park Landmarks Committee’s personal goal of turning certain parts of the neighborhood into historic districts to preserve architecturally and historically significant row houses.

The committee submitted a “Request for Evaluation” to the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission earlier this year to plead its case for roughly 15 blocks. Members are currently awaiting an answer from the city.

Preserving both affordable and historic housing units also helps to save the neighborhood’s economic, social and cultural diversity from large-scale development in Sunset Park, Tondrick said. 

“We need to have a voice in what’s going on in our community right now,” she said.

Roughly half the money raised will fund the local Landmarks Committee’s work, and the rest will be donated to Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a housing advocacy group that’s assisting Section 8 tenants with education and outreach. 

Tickets are priced at $20 each and will include two drinks, a light buffet, live music, a salsa dance performance, and a raffle with prizes like a tour of Li-Lac Chocolates, sweets from Liddabit and giveaways from Industry City Distillery.

Five dollars from the ticket will cover costs at the Irish Haven, with the rest being split between the two causes.