Margert News Archive 5
Parish Corporation Sponsors Housing in Far Rockaway
The Full Story
From "The Tablet," April 20, 2002
By Jerry Cronin
There is good news in Far Rockaway. Ground has been broken for the building of
79 affordable housing units encircling the parish of St. Gertrude on Beach 38th
Street. The majority of the homes are two-family dwellings.
A collaborative Catholic parish effort, begun in 1980 between St. Mary Star of
the Sea and St. Gertrude, was pivotal for bringing the urban renewal project
about. The two parishes joined forces to create the Margert Community
Corporation, a non-profit, Community-based organization that has been providing
neighborhood preservation services, housing assistance, and housing counseling
to low-income tenants and homeowners, the elderly, and persons with
disabilities.
"We have waited so long for this to happen," said Father Brendan Downing, pastor
of St. Gertrude's, who likes to refer to his parish as St. Gertrude's the Great.
"Words cannot describe how happy I am that this construction is finally taking
place. This will be a great boost for the community as well as for the parish.
Once these new home owners are settled in, they will soon realize just how
special Rockaway is."
The Rockaway Peninsula with its sun and surf has served as a summer vacation
spot for generations, especially before the affordability of air travel. In the
1960's, city leaders decided to tear down the old and beaten summer bungalows
and replace them with new housing. While the bungalows were destroyed, the new
buildings were never built. Large tracts of prime real estate remained barren
while numerous promises were never fulfilled.
"It was a case of great thoughts that just never came to fruition," said Father
Downing.
Eventually, the Margert Community Corporation was founded in 1980 by Msgr. James
McKenna, then pastor of St. Mary Star of the sea, who is now retired. Msgr.
McKenna joined forces with nearby St. Gertrude's. The clergy firmly believed
that Far Rockaway would ultimately be developed. As priests proclaiming the
gospel of social justice, they believed it was their duty to assist those with
meager means with the quest of finding dignified and affordable housing. The
Board of Directors of Margert applied for and received government-backed grants
to assist those with low incomes.
The Margert Community Corporation has several important programs: The
Neighborhood Preservation Program assists both home owners and tenants; The
Weatherization Assistance Program provides energy efficiency improvements for
those with low incomes; The Restore Program provides emergency home repairs for
senior citizens; The Housing Counseling Program holds regular bilingual classes
to teach the finer points of home buying and personal financial management.
Recently, when New York City decided to make urban renewal a reality in Far
Rockaway, a unique alliance was formed. The NYC Housing Partnership joined with
the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development. These two then
joined with New York State's Affordable Housing Corporation. Together they
worked on the "New Homes Program" which is now bringing new life to Far
Rockaway.
Government agencies believe it is wise to have community developers as part of
the project development. Due to its outstanding reputation and long-term
commitment to many low-income citizens of Far Rockaway, the Margert Community
Corporation was chosen to assist in the new housing promotion called the Ocean
Pointe at Bayswater. The 79 housing units are scheduled for completion in the
Fall of this year.
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Housing Commissioner Says
State Weatherization Plan Makes Energy Conservation Funds Available
The Full Story
For
Immediate Release
April 15, 2002
Judith A. Calogero, Commissioner of the State Division of Housing and Community
Renewal (DHCR), today announced that New York State's Weatherization Assistance
Program Plan for 2002 has been approved by the federal Department of Energy
(DOE), making available over$20.4 million in weatherization funds to improve
energy conservation. When combined with funds under the Low Income Heating and
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), it is estimated more than 15,000 New York
households will be assisted in 2002.
"Since 1995, under the leadership of Governor George E. Pataki, New York State
has administered more than $330 million to weatherize the homes of the elderly
and working families, including the disabled and families with young children,"
said Commissioner Calogero. "Today, with energy costs again on the rise,
weatherization achieves two immediate goals. It helps New York's seniors and
working families lower their fuel bills, and it helps make us more energy
efficient, thus easing demand across our state. And by reducing energy demand,
we protect our environment and strengthen our economy.
"Low income households shouldn't wait for winter to think about lowering their
utility bills," Commissioner Calogero said. "New York families interested in
determining their eligibility should call us toll free 1-866-ASK-DHCR, to be put
in touch with a local service provider."
New York State's Weatherization program is run through a statewide network of
local, grass-roots service providers, including local governments and community
action agencies. Under contract with DHCR, these community-based groups perform
vital services such as the identification of eligible clients, the evaluation of
housing units to be weatherized, and the installation of energy-saving measures.
Such measures include weather-stripping and caulking around doors and windows,
replacing or repairing broken windows and/or outside doors, and insulating walls
or ceilings.
According to a 1998 study prepared by the Association of Energy Affordability,
Inc. (AEA), for every dollar of State-provided weatherization services,
homeowners realized $4.12 in energy savings over the life of the improvement.
For an average homeowner, a $2,000 investment in weatherization services
triggered $10,320 in savings over a 15-year period.
The Weatherization Assistance Program was created at the federal level in 1976
in response to a national energy crisis. Since its inception, it has continued
to serve as the nation's core program for delivering energy efficient services
to low-income households in every county in America, with priority given to the
elderly, persons with disabilities, and households with children.
For more information on the Weatherization program, please visit DHCR's web
site, www.dhcr.state.ny.us under the Community Development section.
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New New Homes for
Edgemere
The Full Story
For Immediate Release
Contact: Stephanie Lawes
718-471-3724
Following years of pre-development activity characterized by uncertainty,
anticipation and hope, Margert Community Corporation has signed a marketing
services agreement with the NYC Housing Partnership (NYCHP) for Phase I of the
new home construction within the Edgemere Urban Renewal Area.
The NYC Housing Partnership has joined with the City's Department of Housing
Preservation and Development (HPD) and New York State's Affordable Housing
Corporation (AHC) to encourage private development of affordable housing through
the Partnership's "New Homes Program." The purpose of the program is to expand
homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income families with incomes up
to $75,000 and facilitate private sector and community involvement in project
development.
Margert's familiarity with the needs of our local residents and aggressive
homeownership educational services were essential to its selection as community
sponsor. Under the terms of the marketing agreement, Margert will be responsible
for outreach to other community organizations and prospective home purchasers,
monitoring homeowner complaints and owner-occupancy for the 10-year regulatory
term, and providing consistent support efforts to insure the project's success.
R. Randy Lee, president of Leewood Real Estate Group and widely recognized as
one of the most active and experienced low-rise housing builders and developers
in the city, was selected as the developer for the project through the city's
vigorous and competitive Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. Involved in
every phase of the NYC real estate and building business for over thirty-five
years, Mr. Lee has been a principal in the planning, site development and/or
construction of over 4,000 market rate and affordable residential units.
"Margert has been working closely with HPD since the original urban development
plan was released almost ten years ago," says Joseph Barden, executive director.
"We are confident that all our concerns about quality, design and affordability
have been answered with the selection of Randy Lee as developer."
The actual implementation of this plan, long on the drawing boards, has
validated the aggressive homebuyer education efforts Margert began at the same
time. "Our primary concern is now, and has always been, that Rockaway residents
would be in a position to benefit from any new housing development on the
peninsula," says Stephanie Lawes director of homebuyer education at Margert.
"Education is even more critical for our residents who can benefit most from
affordable and energy efficient housing."
Phase I of the new construction will consist of 79 units, mostly 2-family,
between Beach 35th and Beach 39th Streets on the bay side of the peninsula. The
infrastructure work has been in progress for some time, and the actual home
construction should begin by early spring.
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