In 2019, the Washington Street Advocacy Group learned the last undecided site at the World Trade Center, the former Bankers Trust or Deutsche Bank building, or 5 World Trade Center, could face a public process to determine its usage, it went into action to ensure that the building would achieve the long-expressed aim of many September 11 survivors and the family members of the victims of the 2007 Deutsche Bank fire and contain 100% affordable housing.
In 2021, it helped found and worked with the remarkable Coalition for a 100% Affordable 5 World Trade Center to lobby for a different outcome than the one proposed by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.
Nearly every local political leader was solicited to support this goal, and the campaign involved years of challenging work, including relentless lobbying, FOIL requests, media work, community rallies, public events, an envisioning process for architects to propose alternatives, and an alternative financing proposal by housing expert Jerrod Delaine.
On July 27, 2023, the campaign achieved a measure of success as Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to increase the amount of affordable housing in a mixed-use building at 5 World Trade Center to 400 units or 33 percent.
Many political leaders in Lower Manhattan, including Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Assembly Member Grace Lee, District Leader Vittoria Fariello, State Senator Brian Kavanagh, Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rep. Mondaire Jones, played a role in the lobbying on this. All of the Democratic District Leaders in the city also published a letter asking the governor to explore an afforable tower.
We will continue to strengthen out strong coalition to ensure that the completed 5 World Trade Center lives up to its potential.
PRESS:
New York Daily News, July 15, 2019: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-wtc-development-plan-20190714-enhlsytxuncjhll6pb7mkhe4ji-story.html
6sqft, July 15, 2019: https://www.6sqft.com/as-plans-for-5-wtc-push-forward-long-time-fidi-residents-seek-more-involvement-in-the-process/
6sqft, February 12, 2021: https://www.6sqft.com/plan-for-900-foot-tower-with-1325-rentals-at-5-world-trade-center-moves-forward/
Medium, March 2, 2021: https://tfine.medium.com/5-world-trade-center-is-actually-about-the-september-11-memorial-7961b55d84fe
The Indypendent, April 20, 2021: https://indypendent.org/2021/04/housing-for-whom-city-and-state-nix-plan-to-build-affordable-housing-at-world-trade-center-cite/
The City, July 20, 2021: https://www.thecity.nyc/manhattan/2021/7/20/22580763/world-trade-centers-first-residential-tower-sparks-affordable-housing-fight
The Indypendent, September 10, 2021: https://indypendent.org/2021/09/twenty-years-later/
Village Sun, September 11, 2021: https://thevillagesun.com/100-affordable-housing-at-world-trade-center-is-possible-say-activists-and-politicians
AMNY, September 30, 2021: https://www.amny.com/news/push-for-100-affordable-housing-at-5-world-trade-center-takes-center-stage/
New York Times, October 29, 2021: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/realestate/5-world-trade-center-affordable.html
Commercial Observer, December 10, 2021: https://commercialobserver.com/2021/12/full-affordability-at-5-wtc-bad-for-financial-forecast-port-authority/
The National (UAE), December 15, 2021: https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2021/12/15/new-yorks-little-syria-in-peril-of-destruction-by-developers/
Village Sun, January 24, 2022: https://thevillagesun.com/competing-visions-for-5-world-trade-center-100-percent-affordable-maximized-affordable-or-25-percent-affordable
The Gothamist, July 11, 2022: https://gothamist.com/news/affordable-housing-in-one-of-nycs-most-expensive-neighborhoods-becomes-litmus-test-in-competitive-congressional-race
Village Sun, July 28, 2022: https://thevillagesun.com/dan-goldman-joins-affordable-5-world-trade-center-group-in-touting-new-feasibility-study
Village Sun, May 8, 2023: https://thevillagesun.com/lack-of-more-affordability-in-5-w-t-c-project-decried-by-local-politicians-c-b-1-advocates
CURBED, August 1, 2023: https://www.curbed.com/2023/08/5-world-trade-center-financial-district-affordable-housing-limits.html
B1M, September 27, 2023, https://www.theb1m.com/video/5-world-trade-center
THE CITY, October 11, 2023, https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/10/11/affordable-housing-5-world-trade-center-hud-funds/