Submitted by CY, Jul 17, 2007 05:41

There is nothing silly about the advocacy of Brotherhood/Sister Sol. No one is protesting the development of the site. The site is generating opposition because it violates a trust which was handed to the ML Wilson Boys and Girls Club/Convent Avenue Baptist Church over 20 years ago! The deed restriction which calls for 85% not-for-profit community uses and rehabilitation of the building within three years( that is, 1989), was an effort to protect and provide to the community much needed facilities and services—a situation that has become even more critical given the current overrun of luxury housing developments in Hamilton Heights and Harlem, in general. ML Wilson Boys & Girls Club has rebuffed every viable project/development plans which met the requirements of the deed restrictions over the years, including a plan developed by the Milano School of Business which won the Chase Competitive Grant Award that demonstrated the site could be developed within the guidelines of the deed restriction and also provide a revenue stream of $1M per year for the Boys & Girls Club. The current for-profit plans with ARCTAC calls for "affordable housing" which is beyond the reach of the majority of residents and a 15-story building which is out of context and character of the surrounding neighborhood—both of which is an assault on the community. And, in light of this turn of events, shouldn't this project return the taxes they have avoided for over 20 years as a non-profit? We say SHAME on You, ML Wilson and to our Elected who are pushing to have the deed restriction lifted!

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