Dear New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Director Greenberg,

As a Pelham Parkway resident, I respectfully urge your office to reject the Bowery Residents’ Committee (BRC) application for a Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP) at 626 Pelham Parkway South. Our community supports helping vulnerable individuals rebuild their lives; however, this proposed housing model does not provide the dignity, stability, and quality of life residents deserve.

BRC has proposed a 106-unit Single Room Occupancy (SRO) residence. Unit sizes presented by BRC have varied at different meetings; however, the community has been informed that the units would be less than 200 square feet and would not include individual kitchens. Public funding should support safe, stable housing that promotes independence and long-term success, not a model that prioritizes the number of units over residents’ quality of life.

The proposed demolition would also eliminate an 80-year visual anchor of Pelham Parkway. This 1946 architectural building, designed by the renowned firm Cross & Cross, the architects behind Manhattan’s iconic General Electric Building, was originally built for the Bronx Savings Bank. Its Streamline Moderne limestone façade and distinctive stone-ribbed clock are important parts of our community’s history and should be preserved rather than lost through unnecessary demolition and significant landfill waste.

BRC’s track record also requires careful review. A 2020 audit by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli identified deficiencies in monitoring, reporting, and oversight related to BRC’s outreach contracts with city agencies. In addition, employee reviews on platforms such as Indeed have raised concerns regarding workplace culture and employee support, which should be considered when evaluating an organization serving vulnerable populations.

This proposed location is at the heart of Pelham Parkway, surrounded by numerous schools, one of the city’s largest parks, Bronx Park, residential buildings with tenants and cooperative owners, and a commercial district already struggling with theft, loitering, and drug-related activity. Our community is facing housing affordability challenges and needs quality housing, responsible landlords, and preservation of existing housing stock—not more SRO units that do not address these broader concerns.

BRC has stated that this project qualifies as permanent affordable housing because residents receive a lease and keys. However, placing people in single-room units without individual kitchens does not provide the dignified housing necessary to rebuild lives. This proposal risks harming both the clients BRC is intended to serve and a community already facing unresolved challenges.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that your office deny this application and support housing solutions that prioritize dignity, stability, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, preservation of our neighborhood’s history, and the long-term well-being of both residents and the Pelham Parkway community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]