Mark Treyger Stands By as NYC Attempts Eminent Domain in Coney Island
Don’t worry Coney Island – Mark Treyger is there for you. He is supporting the city’s 2009 Plan to Land Grab some property owners land to make you a walkway.
For years, the City of New York has held property owners in Coney Island hostage declaring that land to be the area of future development. When the City announced their plan to use the Coney Island waterfront property, developers backed away because they weren’t interested in being part of the city plan OR they offered low offers and hoped to get the property from the city. In 2003, the city attempted to take my family’s property using eminent domain in Downtown Brooklyn. While the city fumbled in doing this, our hands were tied in doing repairs to the front of the building. We weren’t sure if we should throw our money into our investment property or hold on to it to pay the attorney in a battle against the city.
The odd thing about the City’s use of eminent domain in Downtown Brooklyn was that the city’s plan was to make a park at the end of the block – it’s 12 years later and the park was never built.
Why would Treyger stand by and allow the City of NY to use an old plan made during the Bloomberg administration? Treyger should be defending the property owners in Coney Island as they invested in Brooklyn when no one else wanted to invest in Coney Island and they have been paying taxes all these years as well. In 2009, the area was not viable like it is now. Walburgers and many other businesses are in Coney Island now. Commercial property in Brooklyn is a commodity so there is no reason the city should be threading on these owners.
Last week, a meeting was held in Coney Island by the City. The EDC versus the property owners…..SIXTY – FIVE people attended (how many of the 65 were employees of the city?) The EDC and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce teamed up against the property owner. Why would the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce be at the meeting if the EDC was already representing the city of New York? It’s 2015 and city workers shouldn’t be able to say to a room loaded with other city workers at 1:30 pm. Why wouldn’t that meeting be held at 7:00 pm when people aren’t at work?
I looked at the profiles of EDC and Brooklyn Chamber employees who were present. Most are newer employees and the one who spoke on behalf of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce worked there for less than a year. Why didn’t Mark Treyger call foul when several city offices tag-teamed each other to intimidate the property owner?
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has to know many NYC developers who are willing to pay top dollar for property. Could the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce not realize that developers are are in a battle to get their hands on even small commercial property in Brooklyn? Highly unlikely. If the president of the Chamber doesn’t know anyone like that, then think about getting a new job because there are four of us in Brooklyn who have spoken to these developers and we would be glad to help other property owners get a fair price.
Treyger did not stop this ridiculous meeting and he could have. Treyger can call many other city employees like Melissa Mark- Vivierto to help as his party is the leading political party in Brooklyn. He can easily call the Mayor and tell him to release the owners property from an old plan so the owner can get a fair deal. Leticia James, the council woman representing Downtown Brooklyn was far more vocal with her support for my family and the other property owners AND YES THAT MATTERED. Ms. James was the only one who had hope when sometimes we lost ours. I will never forget the day she stood out in the rain as my family and neighbors held a rally. Leticia James invited all the local newspapers as well.
Why hasn’t Mark Treyger and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce gotten together and called interested developers for a meeting with the Coney Island owners? Both have to know how valuable Brooklyn commercial property is, but are standing by as proceedings attempt to intimidate the owner. I have lived long enough to know that what comes around goes around fellas. For us, former Councilwoman Leticia James made several requests to the city plan. At no time did Ms. James tell us that the plan couldn’t be changed as Mark Treyger has told me.
Treyger wanted to know where I was in 2009 when the city made the plan. We were buying a home in Bay Ridge because the property value slumped due to a failing stock market. We knew our time would come and we were ready with our paperwork so we could have quick sale. It was a different time than it was now. People were afraid the market wasn’t going to come back, but we knew it was coming back so we were glad to finally be able to purchase our own home.
Our experience with developers is that those who are low balling, aren’t ready to build. They are just intermediary buyers who are looking to deal with the big developers. The real developers will offer a price, ask for the property owners price and then make their real offer.
I was a fan of Mark Treyger’s, but his Robin Hood attitude of take from the owners and give to the developers doesn’t sit right with me.
Hugs,
marlene
Topics: Brooklyn | No Comments »