Moelis Institute Director Speaks on Inclusionary/Integrated Housing

Weselcouch Speaks at AIA Event (Photo Credit: Dattner Architects)

On November 24, Moelis Institute for Affordable Housing Policy Director Max Weselcouch spoke on a panel of government and development experts discussing opportunities and challenges for inclusionary and integrated housing. The panel focused on community development in the Brooklyn neighborhood of East New York, looking at this area as a case study for maximizing mixed-income, mixed-density, and equity objectives in a changing neighborhood.

East New York has been declared a priority neighborhood for affordable housing under Mayor de Blasio’s plan to develop 80,000 new affordable housing units and preserve 120,000 existing units. Weselcouch presented relevant findings from the State of New York City’s Housing and Neighborhoods in 2013 report, which found that the East New York/Starrett City area falls in the bottom quartile for median monthly rent across New York City Community Districts, but also in the top quartile for unemployment and poverty rates.

Weselcouch spoke alongside Winston von Engel of the Department of City Planning; Shai Lauros of the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation; and Adam Weinstein of the Phipps Houses. The event was convened by the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This panel was the first in a series of two discussions; the second event, focused on affordable housing in a market rate complex in Manhattan, will take place on December 15, 2014. To learn more about AIA New York, visit their website.