The Housing Plus Blog has previously reported on the “Poor Door” controversy on August 14, 2014 and September 3, 2014. The New York Times reported on April 20, 2015 that 88,000 people applied for the 55 units located in the much reported “Poor Door” building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The “Poor Door” controversy involves having a building with one entrance for the market rate condominium owners and another entrance for the low income renters. The developer for the Manhattan building has stated that “I guess people like it” and it shows “there’s a tremendous demand for high quality affordable housing.” Affordable housing advocates are divided on the issue. Some advocates state that the design represents unequal treatment for the low income renters. Other advocates state the focus should be on producing more affordable units and not on the location of the building entrances. The low income renters will not have access to the pool, gym, bowling alley or private theater but will have access to their own laundry room, community room and bike storage.
Developers state that segregating the low income rental units is preferable when the market rate units with the best views and amenities are for sale to optimize the market rate unit sale prices which yields more funds to build more affordable units. Most of the market rate units in this building have sold and the sale prices are more than $25 million. This building utilized the New York City inclusionary zoning program to obtain increased square footage for construction in exchange for building affordable units. Under current New York City rules, if the developer attaches the affordable unit segment to the market rate segment of the same building, it is required to provide separate entrances. The Mayor of New York City is planning to change a range of housing codes and programs to prohibit future “Poor Door” designs.
What are your thoughts on “Poor Door” designed building – unequal treatment or increased production of affordable units??
Should the NYC Mayor amend the rules to prohibit future “Poor Door” designs??