Free - Center for Urban Pedagogy

I
ENY
a s t o r y b o o k rec o rd!
WH AT ’S
T HIS ?
In t h e s ou t h eas te r n p a r t o f E a s t N e w Yo rk, Bro o kl y n,
the re i s a h u ge d e v e lo p me n t g o in g u p : the N ehem i ah
Sp r i n g C re e k H o u s e s .
PROJECT TEA M:
The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CU P )
Teach in g A rtis t an d Project D irector: H a tuey R amo s- F ermín
Project D irector: Valeria Mogilev ich
Edu cation In ter n : P ru den ce Katze
Res earch ers : Marian a Mogilev ich , Joh n M ang in
D es ign As s is tan ce: Ros ten Woo
Transcribers: Moises Berrun, Carrie Fox , E l i z a b e t h H o p k i n s ,
L u th er B. You n g III
f o r mo re o n C U P, vi si t www.a n o th e rc u p d e v e l o p m e n t . o r g
In t h e m i d s t o f t h e 2 0 0 9 h o u s i n g c r i s i s , i t presents a
very d i ff eren t mo d e l f o r h o u s in g d e v e lo pm ent. S tudents
fro m B rook l y n C o lle g e C o mmu n ity P a r tn e rs hi p (BC C P )
at W i n g a t e c a m p u s c o l l a b o r a t e d w i t h t h e Center for
Urb an P ed agog y (C U P) to d o a s e me s te r- l o ng i nv es tig a t i o n o f t h e a re a . T h i s b o o k a n d s o u n dtrack use
docu m en t ary an d f ic tio n to s h o w o u r jo ur ney i nto thi s
u n ch art ed l an d .
" We d i d a lo t o f re s e a rc h o n th e h is to ry o f
t h e l a n d . We i n t e r v i e w e d a n d p h o tographed
m an y p e o p le a n d th in g s . It wa s c o o l bec a u s e I k n e w a l o t a b o u t E a s t N e w York. I
u sed t o liv e th e re ."
Na ye l l y Es c o b a r
Brooklyn College Community Partner sh ip (BC C P )
Students: Ian Boyd, Thaddeus Cooke, N a y e l l y E s c o b a r, D i o n n e
Matth ias , William Metellu s , Gav in N oble , Isaiah P eeples, K endra
Tu ll
Site D irector Win gate C am pu s : Jes s ica Weis
Program C oordin ator: Jas on Babb
Youth Worker: Umair Ilyas
BCCP Program Director: Steve Ausbury
Special thanks :
A : Walter C am pbell, Brookly n C om m u n ity B o ard 5
B: Ron ald Waters , N eh em iah H ou s in g D evelo pment F und
C orporation
T h i s p ro g r a m w a s funded in part by The National Endowment
f o r t h e A r t s , p u b lic fund s from t he Ne w York Cit y D epartm en t of
C u l t u r a l A ff a i r s , the Bay and Paul Foundations, th e New York State
E d u c a t i o n D e p a r t me nt a nd t he Ame ric a n Arc hit e c tu ral Fou n dat i o n ’s A c c e n t o n Arc hit e c t ure Communit y G ra nt s Program wh ich is
s p o n s o re d b y C NA Insura nc e Comp a nie s a nd V ic t or O. Sch in n erer
& C o m p a n y.
2
C: Reverend David Keith Brawley, St. P a u l C o m m u n i t y B a p t i s t
C h u rch
D: Jean-Paul Ho, Hayden Stephen, Doro t h y L e g g e t t , F i l l m o re
Real Estate
E: N eh em iah Sprin g C reek H ou s es !
Ron ald D illon , C on cer n ed H om eown ers A sso ciatio n
Robert H as s elbrook an d Bill McSh ane, C apsys C o rp.
tic
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Lin
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CITY
NEW YORK
B R O O K LY N !
3
Av e
Euclid
"WF
TZMWBOJB
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Spring Creek Park
O UR CA ST
4
R e vere n d D a v i d Ke i th Bra wl e y is th e P as to r at S t.
Pa u l Com m u n i ty Ba p tis t C h u rc h . T h e y a re part o f a
l arger organ i z a tio n c a lle d E a s t Bro o k ly n C o ng reg ati o ns
(EB C ) . E B C c a m e u p w i t h t h e i d e a f o r t h e Nehemiah
ho u s e s . T h e y l o a n t h e p ro j e c t m o n e y t o make sure the
h om es get b u i l t.
Jean Pau l Ho, H ay den S tephen, and Dorot hy Leggett all work for Fillmore Real Estate at MeadowWood
Estates, a group of condominiums right next to the
N ehem i ah S pri ng C reek H o us es .
R o n Wa t e r s i s t h e G e n e r a l M a n a g e r a n d the Director
o f t h e Neh em i a h H o u s in g D e v e lo p me n t F und C o rpo rati o n . Th e com p a n y a c q u ire s p ro p e r ty, b u i l ds the uni ts ,
m ark et s t h em , s e lls th e m, a n d ma k e s s u re peo pl e
m ove i n .
Wal ter Cam p b el l i s the D i s tri ct Manager for Brooklyn’s Community Board 5. CB5 is a city agency
that m o ni to rs ci ty s erv i ces f o r the E ast New York
C o m m uni ty.
R o n a l d D i l l o n i s P re s i d e n t o f t h e C oncer ned
H o m e o w n e r s A s s o c i a t i o n . T h e y a re a group of
h o m e o w n e r s w h o g e t t o g e t h e r t o h a ve their
c o n c e r n s a d d re s s e d .
R el ated Com p an i es bo ug ht the land for t he Gat ew ay
M al l f ro m N ew Yo rk C i ty. T he C i ty used t hat money for
i nf ras tructure f o r the area.
Th e Ci ty of New Yor k i s pro v i di ng direct housing subsidies to residents and already pu t in the infrastructure
i n the area (l i ke s ewers and s treets) .
Th e Com m u n i ty Preser vati on Co rpo ratio n gave t he
pro j ect a l o an.
R o b er t Ha s s e l b ro o k a n d Bi l l Mc S han e work
at Cap s y s C o r p . C a p s y s b u ild s th e N ehem i ah
S p ri n g Cree k H o u s e s .
5
EAST NEW YO RK
BY I A N B OY D
I t real l y suc k s b a d ly
S o m any bad thi ng s
I can ’t l i ve c o mf o r ta b ly
It do es n’t real l y bo ther
No com m en t o n d r u g s
It i s j us t s o wro ng
P eop l e are s o c r a z y
A s a Gui tari s t
I can ’t t ak e t h e ma d n e s s N o !
It i s hard caus e I’m s ho rt
I t su ck s i n Bro o k ly n
P eo pl e m es s aro und
No m ore p e a c e s ile n c e
It’s g o o d i n o ne way
I’m s t u ck i n t his my o wn H e ll
S o m e peo pl e are g enero us
I w i s h i t b e tte r
T hey hel p each o ther l i v e
B rook l yn w i l l h a v e p e a c e
This is my only chance
S oon er or l a te r in time
To s ho w m y true co l o rs O k
A l l i s w e ll a g a in
I’m ready to m o v e o n
B rook l yn , Qu e e n s ,N e w Yo r k
I s a b i g p ar t o f my lif e
A very s a d p a r t
6
I t w a s f u n n y to see a bicycle just tossed
on t h e s id e o f t h e ro ad . I t h as a f unny
si de an d a s ad s id e as well.
Ga vin N o b l e
7
We lc o m e to the
MUR DE R CA PI TAL
"Ea s t N e w Yo r k h a d a d u a l p e r s o n a l i t y. F irst, it
wa s t h e w o r s t p l a c e i n B ro o k l y n t h a t y o u could
liv e . S e c o n d o f a l l , i f y o u l i v e d i n t h a t s ection and
su r v i v e d , y o u h a d i t m a d e b e c a u s e y o u l ived in the
wo r s t p l a c e i n t h e w o r l d . "
"The 75th precinct, I can recall, used to walk
aro und wi th T- s hi rts s ay i ng 'the killing fields. '
T hi s was the m urder capi tal o f New York. "
R everen d B r aw l ey
Ronald Dillon
"I re m e m b e r t e n o r t w e n t y y e a r s a g o , p e ople
wo u l d t e l l m e 'd o n o t g o t o t h a t n e i g h b o rhood
at n i gh t , d o n o t g o wh e n it g e ts d a r k .' I rem em be r o n e t i m e I w a s s t o p p e d a t a re d l i g h t, and
a grou p of p eople tr ie d to g e t in to my c a r. A nd
th a t ’s h o w b a d i t w a s , y o u h a d d r u g d e a lers, you
h ad al l k i n d s of p ro b le ms ."
Jea n - P a u l Ho
* To l e ar n m ore a b out t he k illing fields, listen to tr ack 2
8
Two ways the neighb o r h o o d
co uld g o in the futur e .
William Metellus
9
T h i n g s w e l earned from
REVEREND BR AWLEY
" F i r s t , w e j o i n e d E a s t B ro o k l y n C o n g re gations, and
o n e o f t h e t h i n g s t h e y d o i n t h a t c u l t u re, and in our
cu l t u re, i s w h a t th e y c a ll h o u s e me e ting s where
p e o p l e f ro m t h e c o m m u n i t y j u s t c o m e together and
t a l k a b o u t w h a t t h e i r n e e d s a re . I t ’s k ind of a needs
a s s e s s m e n t . W h a t w o u l d y o u l i k e t o d o? What would
y ou l i k e t o ch a n g e ? A n d o f te n time s it beg i ns , bel i ev e
i t o r n o t , w i t h y o u r a n g e r. I k n o w t h a t sounds like
a st ran ge p l a c e to s ta r t, b u t wh e re v e r s o m ebo dy ’s
an ger i s, t h at’s u s u a lly wh e re th e ir p a ss i o n i s . S o y o u
k n ow w h en p e o p le s a y, 'L o o k , o u r c o m m uni ty i s dev al u ed , w e’ re d is e n f r a n c h is e d a n d h a ve no s erv i ces .'
S o t h at ’s k i n d a h o w we g o t in to it."
R e vere n d Br a wl e y
* Fo r m o r e , go t o t ra ck 3
10
11
12
S t . P a u l C ommunity Baptist Church is one of the churches
tha t s t a r t e d to b ui l d N ehemi ah h ou ses. From t h is poin t of
vi e w t he w h o l e p i c ture i s m o re embracin g.
I s a iah P eep les Ca pti o n o f ph oto by st ud ent
13
W HAT I S ?
W h at is it? W ho i s i t? W he re di d it c ome fr om?
N E H EM I A H !
" T h e B o o k o f N e h e m i a h s p e a k s a b o u t the people of
God com i n g b a c k to th e ir h o me la n d onl y to f i nd i t
i n ru i n s . Th e y wo u ld h a v e a s wo rd in o ne hand and
t ro w e l i n t h e o t h e r i n o rd e r t o b u i l d b ricks and mortar
b u t al so t o d e f e n d th e ir c o mmu n ity. A nd i t was that
i m a g e t h a t I t h i n k g a v e b i r t h t o t h e i dea of rebuilding
Eas t B rook l y n ."
R e v e re n d B r a w l e y
* C ur i o us ab out Ne he m ia h? Go to tr ack 5
14
T h i s r e p r e s e n t s the church and you see that
y ou h av e di f f e re n t p e op le . You ca n see the
d iffe r e n t c h ur che s com in g t oge t he r her e.
I s a ia h Pe e p l e s
15
Th is p l ac e is re al l y
MYST E R I O U S
I a m u s e d t o r i d i n g m y b i k e . M o s t l y I g o from my
ho m e t o w n i n C a n a r s i e t o s o m e t i m e s S t a rrett City,
Ga t ew ay Mal l , a n d e v e n f u r th e r d o wn . I w as ri di ng
aro u n d t h ere one d a y a n d I s a w th e s e h o us es , and I
sai d , " A h , t h ey a re ma k in g n e w h o u s e s ." I s ai d, " Let
m e ch eck t h i s up , I g o t to s e e wh a t is h appeni ng ...
... S o I ri d e m y b ik e , a n d th e n th e re is th i s bi g co nstr u ct i on d u d e c h a s in g a f te r me . I h e a rd hi m s ay " g et
ou t " a n d " b e a t i t ! " I d o n ’t k n o w w h a t t h e hell is going
on a n d I ’ m j u s t c u r i o u s . A n d b y d o i n g t h is project
he re , i t h e l p e d m e l e a r n a l o t m o re t h a n I used to
k n ow ab ou t t h e my s te r io u s b u ild in g s th a t I s aw. N o w
the y ’ re n ot m y s te r io u s a n y mo re , I k n o w who and what
i s b eh i n d i t .
Isai a h P e ep l e s
16
W hat was ther e befo r e?
* For m ore of b e f ore go to tr ack 6
17
" T h e D e p a r t m e nt of Sanitation had been using the land as a dump site for m a n y, m a n y y e a r s .
T h e y b ro u g h t i n fill from outside to bring it up to a certain level. Everyth i n g i s a t a c e r t a i n
e l e v a t i o n i n t he city: city streets, city services such as infrastructure , s e w e r s . S o t h e y
bro u g h t i n a b o ut el eve n fee t o f san d t h at h ad t o be dredged ou t of Jamaica B ay. In o t her
w o rds , i t ’s no t a s 'mo ther na ture' creat ed it over cen t u ries or millen n ia."
Ro n Wa t ers
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First t h e re w a s a l a n d f i l l , t h e n t h e G a m b i n o family
bu ri ed som e b od i e s (th e y mig h t b e h a u n te d by g ho s ts ),
the n t h ey t u r n ed i t in to N e h e mia h h o u s e s .
Nay el l y E s c o b a r
I wanted to s ho w s o m e o f the g arba ge t hat Nehemiah is
g o i ng to be bui l t o n and ho w i t g o t there over t ime.
Isai ah Peep l es
19
The b attl e of
MO U S E
VS.
HOUS E
" A t o n e p o i n t , i f I re m e m b e r c o r re c t l y, there
w as a con se r v a tio n is s u e . T h e re wa s a part i c u l a r k i n d o f m o u s e – d o n ’t q u o t e me on the
e x a c t t y p e o f m o u s e – i t w a s a m o u s e with a
f u z z y t a i l o r s o m e t h i n g . I f y o u b u i l d you may
ob l i t erat e t his mo u s e . Bu t re s id e n ts of Eas t
New York co u ld c a re le s s a b o u t a mo us e. We
w an t ed t o s e e a h o u s e , n o t a mo u s e . "
R e vere n d Bra wl e y
* Fo l l o w t he m ous e w it h t ra ck 7
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T h e c o l o r s w ere just pretty much every
c o l o r. G a rb a g e i s l i k e e ve r y co l o r an d
n a st y a n d d o o d i sh a nd when i t’s mixed
to g e t h e r i t l o o k s nasty.
Na y e l l y E s c o ba r
21
22
" W h a t m a k e s it real special is that it is one of the largest lots of land l e f t i n t h e c i t y.
B a s i c a l l y w hat we’re talking about is the construction of an entire s e c t i o n o f t h e
c i t y ; a b r a n d new section of the city. I don’t know if it’s ever been do n e t h i s l a r g e
be f o re , s o i t ’s uni q ue ."
R e v e re n d Bra w ley
23
* Li sten to tr ack 10 fo r mo r e
WHERE
ARE THE
HOUSES
COMING
FROM?
T he ho us es are pre- f abri cated
by C aps y s at the Bro o kl y n
N av y Yard
C B5
5%
T h e y ’ re d e l i v e re d b y
t r u c k o n l o c a l s t re e ts
24
W H E R E AR E
T H E P E OPLE
C O M IN G F R O M ?
FO R PHA S E I O F THE NEHEMI AH SPRI NG
CR EEK HO US ES :
50% of the units are reserved for people from
Bro o kl y n C o m m uni ty Bo ard 5 (CB5)
?
45% are for any New Yorker who wins the
ho us i ng l o ttery, i s a f i rs t- ti m e homebuyer, and
has the credi t and i nco m e to qualify
45%
50%
5% are res erv ed f o r uni f o rm ed NYPD
After Phase I,
the uni ts wi l l be o pen to any qualifying first time homebuyers from all over the City
T here wi l l be f i ve phas es f o r Nehemiah Spring
Creek, 115 - 130 houses will be built in each
phas e
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Living in a
P REFA B PA R A D I SE
"Th e b i g g e s t s el l i n g p o i n t t o m o d u l a r w o uld be the
sp eed an d t h e q u a lity. O n e b u ild in g c a n co m e o ut o f
th e f a c t o r y i n 1 2 d a y s . T h e f a c t t h a t y o u are saving
ti me com p l et i ng th e p ro je c ts me a n s th a t y o u’re s av i n g m on ey, b ec a u s e y o u a re p a y in g le s s i nteres t o n
the con st ru ct i o n lo a n s ."
R o b er t Ha s s el b ro o k
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*L isten to t r a c k 9 f or m or e
T h e h o u s e s a r e constructed inside the Navy Yard factor y where
t h e y ar e de si gne d t o b e s t a ck e d on to p o f each o ther.
27
28
TSt
h euyd eant
r e qnuoowteplaced
h ere on trucks
re ady t o be s hip p e d .
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T h e n t h e y are shipped
o v e r n i g h t t o t he s it e .
" I t h a s t a k e n us three ye a r s to bu ild 117 h ou ses in Ph ase I.
I e x p e c t t o do Phase II in two years, because we’re all on
a ro l l . "
R o n Wat ers
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M ak e Your Ow n Sp rin g Creek Develo pment
1. Cut o ut t h e h o u s e s
2 . Fo l d t he t a b s d o w n s o y o u h a v e a sol i d fou ndati on
3 . N o w yo u c a n p u t y o u r N e h e m i a h hou ses any where!
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D o n’t g o d own to the
BAS EME NTS
‘c a use ther e a r en’t a ny
"Fo r t h i s ro u n d o f h o u s e s , S p r i n g C re e k , we’re not
bu i l d i n g b as eme n ts to e n s u re th a t e v e r y thi ng i s
en v i ron m en t al l y s a f e f o r th e re s id e n ts that l i v e there,
bu t t h e re m e d i a t i o n w a s a p h e n o m e n a l process."
R e vere n d B r a wl e y
"T he p ract i cal i mp a c t o f b u ild in g o n to p of a l andf i l l i s
that t h ey can ’t h a v e b a s e me n ts . If y o u h av e a bas em en t , m et h an e g a s f ro m th e la n d f ill will co l l ect i n i t.
T he f act i s t h ey n e v e r re me d ia te d a n y o f thi s s tuff .
T he rem ed i at i o n wa s 'We ’re g o in g to p a ve ev ery thi ng
o v er w i t h b l ack to p .' In s te a d o f d o in g th e rem edi ati o n , t h e com m u n ity g o t n o b a s e me n ts ."
Ronald Dillon
* G e t t h e do w n - low on b a s e m e nts o n tr ack 7
32
33
a c o u p le o f mi n ut e s w i t h
*R O N WATE RS *
Ga vi n Nob l e ( E N Y i n v e s ti g a ti o n te a m ) : C an y o u tel l
us a b o u t t h e p ro c e s s o f a p p l y i n g f o r h o me ownership?
R o n Wa t e r s : O k . We h a v e a n o p e n l o t t e ry system for
New York Ci t y re s id e n ts .
GN: From al l ov e r th e C ity ?
RW: A n y p l ace in th e C ity. It’s a d v e r tis e d i n the m edia . We u s e t h e D a i l y N e w s , w e u s e . . . w hat is the civil
se r v i c e p a p e r ? E l D i a r i o a n d T h e C h i e f . We post it and
we g i v e t o t h e m a n i d e a o f t h e c o s t , t h e low and the
hig h i n c o m e l i m i t s t h a t a re a p a r t o f t h e program. Back
in 1 9 9 5 o r 1 9 9 6 , w e p u t t h e a d i n t h e p a pers, and we
recei v ed ap p rox ima te ly 1 2 ,0 0 0 re q u e s ts f o r an appl i catio n .
GN : How m an y h o u s e s we re th e re f o r th at phas e?
RW: Th i s w as f o r a p ro je c te d 5 0 0 o r s o o dd ho us es .
T h at s h ow s y ou wh a t th e d e ma n d is . A trem endo us
ne ed . A n d w h at we d o is th e n th e C ity c o m es i n and
su p e r v i s e s t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e m a i l b a g s , we pull these
let t e r s o u t o f t h e m a i l b a g a t r a n d o m . A nd it is opened
in t h e p re s e n c e o f a g ro u p o f p e o p l e , i n cluding some
pr i es t s, som e re v e re n d s , s o me p a s to r s . The appl i cati on s are op en e d v e r y c a re f u lly in a s u p erv i s ed m anner,
34
and they are g i v en what i s cal l ed a “w ait list number. ”
A nd then we s tart s creeni ng the applicat ions in t hat
sequence, from 1 on. So, it is absolutely over and
abo v e what i s ho nes t.
GN: Yo u s creen the appl i cati o ns, t hen you pick t hem at
rando m ?
RW: Our first group that we logged was about 3,200
peo pl e. A nd we are s l o wl y g o i ng t hrough t hat . And, by
the way, a l o t o f peo pl e do n’t qualify. E ven w hen you
put the i nco m e l i m i ts i n the ad, a lot of people do not
qual i f y.
GN: C an we as k what the l i m i ts a re?
RW: We have been able to sell houses to people who
were $36,000 a y ear – that’s a household income. I n
o rder to g et the bes t f i nanci ng we use t he St at e of New
Yo rk M o rtg ag e A s s o ci ati o n and they dict at e t he maxim um i nco m e i n o rder f o r thi s to be classified as affordable housing. So, people could ear n just a bit over
$100,000 a year, they could still qualify. But, of course
in the end, credit history has to be perfect. A-ok, good
rating – no judgement against anybody.
"I p i c k e d a n a rchi tec t, A l e x a nd e r Gorlin , wh o I t h in k it is very
c a p a b l e a n d competent. But everybody in the world is an
a rc hi t e c t u r a l cr i ti c a nd so m e p eople like it , some people h at e
i t , s o m e p e o p le don’t care one way or the other. But that is
w h a t m a k e s u p a n i nte resti ng world t h at we are livin g in ."
Ro n Wa t e r s
35
*For mo r e f r om Ron , lis t e n t o t ra ck 14
May b e y o u sho u l d j u s t
FO R G ET I T
"Oh f orget i t , t h e lo tte r y is s c a m. T h e lo ttery i s wi thi n
Neh em i ah . S o i f th e re a re 1 0 0 h o u s e s b e i ng bui l t,
an d t h ere are 1 ,0 0 0 p e o p le g o in g to N e hem i ah m eeti n gs, t h ere i s a lo tte r y f o r th o s e 1 ,0 0 0 p e o pl e. If y o u,
n ot h av i n g gon e to th e me e tin g s , wa n t to appl y i n
th e m i d d l e o f t h e p ro c e s s , t h e y s a y t h e application
process i s cl os e d ."
Ronald Dillon
"We w a n t e d t h e f o l k s t h a t l i v e h e re i n E a st New York
to g e t t h e i r f a i r s h a re o f t h e h o m e s . T h e 50% they
re s erved i n P h a s e I wa s s a tis f y in g , b u t it i s s ti l l no t
en ou gh . "
Wa l t er Ca mp b e l l
36
37
N o s h i r t , no s ho e s ,
NO CA R PE T
" We l i k e t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e c i t y ’s h o meownership
p ro g r a m . W h i c h m e a n s b u y i n g a h o u s e, owning
p rop ert y. We d o n ’t b e lie v e th a t mu c h i n rental .
Th e m aj ori t y o f h o me b u y e r s a re wo men, s i ng l e
a n d s o m e t i m e s w i t h c h i l d re n . I d o n ’t know why,
d on ’t ask m e ."
R o n Wa t e r s
"Neh em i ah h el pe d a lo t o f p e o p le . T h e s am e
pro p e r t y t h e y b u y f o r $ 4 0 , 0 0 0 t h e y a re s elling for
ab ou t $300, 000 . A lo t o f p e o p le h a v e d o ne v ery wel l
wi t h i t . S o i t d o e s in c re a s e th e v a lu e o f the co m m uni ty. We h a v e a c e n s u s t h a t s h o w s b a s i c a l ly when there
i s m ore h om eown e r s h ip , a n d th e re is p r i de o f ho m eo wn ers h i p , i t d o e s in c re a s e th e re v e n u e i n the co m mu n i t y a n d d o e s c h a n g e t h e c o m m u n i t y itself. And
as a real est at e p e r s o n , I c a n te ll y o u th is : i t do es n’t
ma t t e r w h a t t y p e o f h o m e i t i s , i t ’s t h e p eople, it’s
the com m u n i t y."
Jea n - P a u l Ho
38
" Ev ery bo dy wants to o wn a ho m e. Ow ning a home is
the A m eri can D ream , o k? Yo u know, it ’s a t ax w rit eo ff . O ne o ther thi ng , i f y o u’re g o ing t o buy a house, I
don’t care how beautiful the carpet is... pick up your
carpet and take i t wi th y o u. H ardw ood floors w ill
take y o u a l o ng way."
Wal ter Cam p b el l
39
Ro n Wate r s i n f ro n t o f
p o l a ro i d s o f f i r s t - t i m e
ho meb uy e r s.
For e c lo s u r e s are
ESS E N T I A L LY
ZER O
"To d at e t h e Neh e mia h p e o p le h a v e b u ilt abo ut 3,000 ho m es
h ere i n Eas t Ne w Yo r k a n d Bro wn s v ille , a nd l es s than o neha l f o f 1 % h a v e a n y d e l i n q u e n c i e s . I n t h e world that we live
in t o d a y, w e a re a n a n o m a l y. I ’ m n o t b o asting, but I’m proud
o f t h i s s i t u at i on . L e s s th a n o n e - h a lf o f o f 1% i s es s enti al l y
ze ro. A n d I cred it th a t to o u r s c re e n in g pro ces s and the
St at e of New Yo r k M o r tg a g e A s s o c ia tio n who are the underwri t ers of m ost o f th e lo a n s ."
R o n Wa t e r s
40
41
st ud ent q uote h e re
MO ' C R E DI T
Mo ’ pr obl e ms ?
"No on e sh ou l d b e s a y in g wh o s h o u ld liv e i n a nei g hborh ood . We d o n ’t liv e in th o s e d a r k a g es any m o re.
We l i ve i n a w o r ld wh e re e v e r y o n e h a s a n o ppo rtuni ty, an d n o on e s h o u ld te ll y o u wh e re y o u s ho ul d l i v e.
It d o e s n ’t m a t te r w h a t c o l o r y o u a re : g reen, purple,
o r an ge. . . w h at ma tte r s is y o u r c re d it."
Jea n - P a u l Ho
"Be l i ev e m e, y o u s c re w u p , y o u r s c o re te l l s them whether y ou can get a mo r tg a g e o r y o u c a n ’t. S o , i f buy i ng
a h o m e i s a n es s e n t i a l t h i n g i n y o u r l i f e time, then be
ca re f u l t o k e e p y o u r c re d i t s c o re v e r y h igh. Best thing
you can d o. A nd if y o u g e t ma r r ie d ma k e s ure y o u m arry a g i r l w h o d o e s n ’t h a v e a b a d c re d i t score, because
th e y a d d t h e m b o t h t o g e t h e r. Yo u m a y h ave a good one
an d s h e m a y h a v e a b a d o n e , t h e n y o u ’ re in trouble. So
al w ay s m arry a r ic h g ir l."
R o n Wa t e r s
42
"I have a projection for 2030. When you’re dating, the
person is going to want your blood type and your
credi t hi s to ry."
Hayd en S tep h en
43
*Mo r e o n cr ed i t on t r a c k 11
44
The apartments look fantas t i c . I w o u l d l i v e
there. I would own it. I wou l d j u s t c o m e i n
t h ere an d ju st live t h ere.
Ga vin Noble
45
F R O M T H E NEW LOTS
AV E N U E S UBWAY,
THROUGH CLE V E L AND ST R E E T,
TO C O Z I N E AVENUE,
46
TO FLATLA NDS AV E NUE ,
PASSING ASHF OR D ST R E E T,
TO THE NEHEMIAH SPRING CR E E K HOUSE S
47
SH E D I D N ' T D I E ,
O B VI O U S LY
"T here are p eople wh o a p p lie d f o r th e lo tteri es back i n 1983 who di ed
wai t i n g f or S p r in g C re e k . It to o k s o lo n g , peo pl e di ed f ro m di ff erent
thi n gs. Th ey n e v e r g o t th e ir wis h . T h a t w as thei r ul ti m ate wi s h, to g et a
h om e i n S p ri n g C re e k . An d we a re c lo s ing to m o rro w o n a l ady who has
wai t ed . S h e d i dn ’t d ie , o b v io u s ly. S h e s urv i v ed, s he i s j us t ready to reti re.
I t h i n k sh e m i gh t h a v e h a d a b a b y b a c k w hen s he appl i ed i n the 80’s .
And t h i s b ab y i s n o w a v e te r a n o f th e Ir a q war, he j us t cam e back, he’s
m arri ed an d h a s a c h ild . T h e y ’re g o n n a l i v e i n the ho us e wi th her. I m ean,
i t’s a real h u m a n in te re s t s to r y, f a n ta s tic ."
R o n Wa t e r s
48
I n t h e f u t u re , I would love to see
t h e s e h o u s e s filling every part of
Broo k ly n .
N a ye lly E s co bar
49
W h at w i l l li fe be l i ke i n
IN T HE F U TU RE . . .
"I t h i n k b y 2 0 3 0 , a t l e a s t t h e t re e s w e ’ v e planted
wi l l b e f u l l y gro wn . I th in k b y th e n y o u w i l l def i nit e l y s e e t h e s u p e r m a r k e t . I t h i n k y o u ’ l l see a
go o d s t a r t f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . S o m e w o uld even
cal l i t a ci t y w i th in a c ity b y 2 0 3 0 ."
"2030…Maybe the mortgage would just be getting
ready to dwindle down, you know because people
wi l l g et a 25 to 30 y ear m o rtg ag e for t hose homes. "
Walter Campbell
R e vere n d B r a wl e y
"I li v e i n a t o w n h o m e d e v e l o p m e n t i n N e w Jersey.
Th e s e h o m e s a re 2 5 y e a r s o l d n o w a n d there are
a t h o u s a n d o f t h e s e h o m e s , a n d t h e p l a ce looks
as good , i f n ot b e tte r, th a n wh e n it wa s bui l t.
Th e l a n d s c a p i n g w o r k h a s n o w g ro w n , t rees
h av e grow n , shr u b s h a v e g ro wn , a ll th e green
stuff i s b eau t i f u l."
" T hi s i s a l o w- l y i ng area that us ed t o be marshland.
It’s a pro babi l i ty thi ng that a f l o od at five years w ill
o nl y be a m i no r o ne. But ev ery 100 years t here might
be a m aj o r o ne."
R on al d Di l l on
R o n Wa t e r s
"If i t k eep s goi n g th e wa y it is g o in g , in tw enty
yea r s , t h e re w o n ’t b e a n y l a n d a v a i l a b l e , it’ll be
fu l l y d evel op ed a n d a t its ma x ."
Hayd e n S t ep h e n
50
*Mo r e talk o f the futur e on t r a c k 16
THE C R E W
51
C REDI TS
B OO K
F ro nt c over: T ha d d e u s Cooke
Pa g e 3 : Ma p b y Ro sten Woo
Pa g e 4 : Drawings by Isaiah Peeples
a n d Ga vi n N o b l e
P age 30: Ph ot o b y H at uey R amo s Fermín
P age 31: Drawin g s b y G a v i n N o b l e ,
design by Marlis a W is e
Tr a c k 1 : F e a t u r i n g D i o n n e M a t t h i a s ,
G av in N o b le, N ay elly E s co b ar, and
T had d eus C o o k e. M us ic b y Ian B o y d
Tr a c k 3 : F e a t u r i n g G a v i n N o b l e .
M ix ed b y T had d eus C o o k e
P age 34: Ph ot o b y H at uey R amo s Fermín
Tr a c k 4 : F eat uring N ay elly E s co b ar
Pa g e 1 1 : P ho to b y Isaiah Peeples
Pa g e 1 2 : P ho to b y Isaiah Peeples
P age 37: Drawin g b y T had d eus C o o k e
Pa g e 1 3 : D r awi ng b y Dion n e Mat t h ias
P age 38: Ph ot o b y Is aiah Peep les
Pa g e 1 4 : P ho to b y Isaiah Peeples
P age 41: Ph ot o b y H at uey R amo s Fermín
Pa g e 8 : D r a wi ng b y W illiam Met ellu s
Pa g e 1 7 : D r a wi ng b y Isaiah Peeples
Pa g e 1 8 : P ho to b y Gavin Noble
P age 42 - 43: Drawing s b y Is aiah
Peeples an d Dionne M at t hias
Pa g e 1 9 : Drawings by Isaiah Peeples
a n d N aye l l y Esc o b a r
P age 44: Ph ot o b y Prud ence Kat z e
Pa g e 2 0 : P ho to b y H at u ey R amosF e rm í n
Pa g e 2 1 : D r a wi ng b y Nayelly Escobar
Pa g e 2 2 - 2 3 : Photo by Hatuey
Ra mo s-F er m í n
P age 45: Drawin g b y G av in N o b le
P age 46 - 47: P h o t o s b y G a v i n N o b l e ,
Dionne Matthias , T h a d d e u s C o o k e ,
Pru den ce Kat ze, and H at uey R amo s Fermín
P age 48: Drawin g b y N ay elly E s co b ar
Tr a c k 5 : F eat uring D io nne M at t hias .
M us ic b y T had d eus C o o k e
Tr a c k 6 : F e a t u r i n g G a v i n N o b l e a n d
N ay elly E s co b ar
Tr a c k 7 : F eat uring T had d eus C o o k e
Tr a c k 9 : F eat uring N ay elly E s co b ar
Tr a c k 1 0 : F e a t u r i n g G a v i n N o b l e .
M us ic b y T had d eus C o o k e
Tr a c k 1 1 : F e a t u r i n g N a y e l l y E s c o b a r.
M us ic b y T had d eus C o o k e
Tr a c k 1 2 : F e a t u r i n g G a v i n N o b l e ,
N a y e l l y E s c o b a r, a n d T h a d d e u s C o o k e .
M us ic b y T had d eus C o o k e
Tr a c k 1 3 : F e a t u r i n g G a v i n N o b l e .
M us ic b y T had d eus C o o k e
Pa g e 2 4 - 2 5 : Drawing by Gavin
N o b l e , ma p d e si g ned by Valeria Mogil e v i ch and Ro sten Wo o
P age 51: Photo s b y I s a i a h P e e p l e s ,
Thaddeus Cooke , G a v i n N o b l e , W i l l i a m
Met t elu s, an d Pr ud ence Kat z e
Tr a c k 1 4 : M us ic b y T had d eus C o o k e
and Is aiah Peep les
Pa g e 2 6 - 2 8 : P ho to s by Marian a
Mo g i l e vi ch
Back Cover : Hat uey R amo s - F ermín
Tr a c k 1 5 : F eat uring G av in N o b le
Pa g e 2 9 : Photo courtesy of Capsys
Corp.
Gr aphi c Des i gn : R o s t en Wo o
Tr a ck 16: M u s i c by T h a dde u s C o o k e
A d d i t i o nal s o un d m i x : b y R o s t e n
Wo o
Tr a c k 2 : M us ic b y T had d eus C o o k e
P age 33: Ph ot o b y H at uey R amo s Fermín
Pa g e 6 : P ho to b y Gavin Noble
52
SOU N DS
To h e a r th e a u di o tr a c k s , pl e a s e v i s i t
www. an o t h e rcup d e v e l o p m e n t . o r g /
ENY
I
ENY
a s t o r y b o o k rec o rd!