Williamsburg, NY – Hundreds of angry Williamsburg residents are up in arms over a proposed rent hike that they say is too high and not deserved.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The management company for the Bedford Gardens on Ross St. has proposed a 19% rent hike across the board to cover renovation costs.
Officials at Kraus Management sent tenants a letter in March informing them about their proposal to jack up the rent.
The city Dept. of Housing, Preservation and Development and the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development will ultimately decided if the increases at the rent subsidized building will go through.
“The exorbitant rent hikes being proposed at Bedford Gardens are putting an affordable development at risk of no longer being affordable,” District Leader Licoln Restler (D-Williamsburg) said.
Max Klein, 55, said the hallways and elevators constantly smell like urine and are never cleaned.
Even with a 20 percent increase, the rent on these apartments will be well below market and a real bargain. The tennants have no reason to complain since these buildings are in much better shape than comparable subsidized housing units. Kraus managment’s application for the rent increase lays out the financial need for higher rents. While Kraus has been accused of self-dealing since his own companies provide most of the support services to these units, he has been fully transparent about the arrangments between his service companies and the company that owns the project. The tennants have every right to move elsewhere if they don’t like the increase.
That’s what happens when you have the government telling owners what they can charge.
They are paying 300% less than most of us. No one is going to feel bad for them.
Wow. what a positive meeting we the residence appreciated the people and elected officials for participating at the meeting especially congresswoman nidya Velazquez flew down from washington,she is fighting always for us making sure affordable housing prices stays affordable!! Just for the records the last year she broad 52.3 million dollar for affordable housing that’s a big accomplishment.
It’s an Aaroni propeganda. Election is coming up June 26. All names mentioned in this article are from the Aaroni side.
Why didn’t they mention council member Steve Levin who is extremely instrumental in this case? Nydia Velesquez didn’t deliver anything! Its typical of the aroinim who just love running to the media with inflated stories!
How about all the people who reside in the new condo’s? They pay over $3,000 rent? Stop crying foul!
And lest anyone forget that on top of cheap rent they don’t pay electricity bills!!! That said if I’d be living there I wldnt either appreciate such a drastic increase especially in one lump increase
You know, there are much cheaper places to live in other parts of the country. There really are communities that offer better quality of life (actual backyards where kids can safely play, windows that don’t need bars on them, the ability for children to walk to school or ride bikes or actually be kids) while offering fewer distractions … All it takes is the brains to realize that NY and NJ is not the end all.
They should all be quiet. They pay so little as it is; and the apartments are so normal and functional.
If you dont like the cost of rent, move somewhere else, or see if you can get anything nearby for that price. If you can – then move. If not, suck it up & stop complaining.
I have a 2 bedroom, and pay 2000 / month without utilities.
Section 8; ain’t it great!
WIC and HEAT are really neat!
Families First – it could be worse!
NYC Councilmember Steve Levin arrived at the end of the Meeting and he asked to speak, he started saying that he is against a 16% percent increase in Clemente, so the crowd started yelling it’s 19% increase and it’s Bedford Gardens not Clemente, he was totally not prepared with the facts.