Luncheon draws masses to support affordable housing.The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Housing Conference/National Housing Conference drew over 1,000 guests December 12 for the 44th Annual Awards Luncheon, "It Began in New York: 75 Years of Housing." Clara Fox, co-chair and founder of the New York Housing Conference in 1973, was honored hon·or n. 1. High respect, as that shown for special merit; esteem: the honor shown to a Nobel laureate. 2. a. Good name; reputation. b. with a standing ovation. Fox is a pioneer of affordable housing in New York, who developed the first settlement houses in the city in 1965 and eventually created the Settlement Housing Fund. She was instrumental in the rescue of Manhattan Plaza Manhattan Plaza is a large residential complex in midtown Manhattan, New York City that occupies the city block bounded north by 43rd Street, east by 9th Avenue, south by 42nd Street, and west by 10th Avenue. , the 1,688-unit development for performing artists that is credited with helping begin the revitalization re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. of Times Square. "Sometimes, it seems we forget where we came from 75-years ago, to forget that we started the movement for public housing. What happened here 75 years ago is a tradition that needs to be carried out," Fox told the conference. "I hope that those of you here today will carry on and try to accomplish some of the same kinds of things that I was able to accomplish, with the help of the people around me." Councilwoman Christine Quinn took a break from back-to-back meetings to attend the conference and speak about one of the most important issues pertaining per·tain intr.v. per·tained, per·tain·ing, per·tains 1. To have reference; relate: evidence that pertains to the accident. 2. to affordable housing today: The revamping of the 421-a tax incentive program. "421-a is important to everyone," said Quinn. "When I go around and speak to people in my district and ask them what is important to them, 9 out of 10 times people will answer, 'Access to affordable housing.' The same issue that has galvanized gal·va·nize tr.v. gal·va·nized, gal·va·niz·ing, gal·va·niz·es 1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current. 2. the City Council these past few months is an issue that will have long term affects for residents of the city. "We need to strike a balance with 421-a, to create a program that will not just look good on paper, but that will generate more housing in the next 10 years than we have had in the years before." |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion