[cg] Housing and Urban Gardens
Friends, Community gardening is 50 percent gardening and 100 percent community activism and political action. This is a Manhattan Community Board 4 letter to Amanda Burden, the Commissioner of NYC Planning on a proposed development in the Clinton Urban Renewal Area which includes theatres, housing and commercial development, new green space and a community garden. This NYC Uniform Land Use Review Process ( ULURP) vote will probably pass this evening. I have forwarded it off to you to show the complexity, in terms of zoning and political conversations, that garden preservation usually needs in big cities. I feel honored to have been on the Clinton Land Use and Zoning Committee that drafted this document, did the work ( over several years) to be able to cobble together the compromises that made housing and gardens a possibility on what is now very expensive real estate. It is only when community gardeners get on local planning boards, get engaged in the political process and show some real staying power, that similar outcomes are possible. Everbest. Adam Honigman Volunteer, Clinton Community Garden October ___, 2004 Hon. Amanda M. Burden, AICP Chair City Planning Commission 22 Reade Street New York, NY 10007 Re: Clinton Green Mixed Use Development – 51st to 53rd Streets, West of Tenth Avenue - ULURP Applications No. 050050 ZMM, 050051 ZRM, 050052 ZSM, 050053 ZSM, 005054 ZSM and 005055 HAM Dear Chair Burden: At the recommendation of its Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen Land Use Committee, Manhattan Community Board No. 4, having held a duly noticed public hearing on ULURP applications number 050050 ZMM, 050051 ZRM, 050052 ZSM, 050053 ZSM, 005054 ZSM and 005055 HAM, adopted the following resolution by roll call vote (___ in favor, ___ opposed, ___ abstentions and ___ present but not eligible to vote). These are applications by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and The Dermot Company (Dermot) for a series of land use approvals to facilitate the development of a mixed-use, primarily residential project on portions of Sites 8 and 9C within the Clinton Urban Renewal Area between 51st and 53rd Streets west of Tenth Avenue. This project will be one of the last major developments within the Clinton Urban Renewal area, completing a more than 30-year planning and urban renewal effort by the City and the Clinton community. It is the result of a Request for Proposals issued by HPD on December 3, 2001. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT The proposed development will involve the construction of approximately 627 residential rental units in two 24 story towers located in the midblock portion of the development site, on a platform to be constructed over the Amtrak rail cut, and a seven story building with frontages on Tenth Avenue and 53rd Street to house theater, gallery and administrative space for INTAR Hispanic American Arts Center and Ensemble Studio Theater (EST). Seven residential condominium loft units will be located above the theater space. Twenty percent of the rental apartments will be affordable to families with incomes up to 80% of the area median income for at least 30 years. (This means . . . . [add annual income levels]) The condominium units will be sold at market rates. The development will also include approximately 21,700 square feet of public open space, including an approximately 7,000 square foot linear park between 51st and 52nd Streets, and an approximately 6,500 square foot adjacent to the Oasis Community Garden. THE COMMUNITY’S CONCERNS Since its selection as the developer for this project, Dermot has met many times with various members of the Clinton community to present their plans, listen to the community’s responses and revise their plans accordingly. The Dermot team has won the respect of this community for its willingness to shape its plans to address our concerns, for its indefatigable optimism about this project despite its many planning challenges, and for the overall quality of the design that has emerged from the process. Our concerns about this project relate to three main subjects: the theater space, the open space and the project’s overall density. The Theater Space Theater space for INTAR and EST was included in the RFP in order to facilitate further redevelopment of the Clinton Urban Renewal Area. Both organizations are vested tenants of City-owned space in the Clinton Urban Renewal Area and entitled to relocation benefits if they are to be displaced. INTAR occupies a two-story building at 5?? W. 53rd Street that will be demolished to make way for the proposed development. EST is housed in space at 549 W. 52nd Street that was to be redeveloped by the Women’s Interart Center. The RFP therefore required the developer to “construct and fund the complete build out of theater spaces.” Subsequently, Addendum
[cg] Korean Vegetable/Herb
Some of the Korean gardeners at one of our garden sites grow a plant that seems to used as both a green and an herb. Unfortuantely I only know one Korean word, and none of the Korean gardeners speak more than a few words of English. So I'd like to describe it and see if anyone knows a latin or English name for it. They call it ssook with the oo sounding like the u in Sue or cute. And there may be some tonal change in there among the oo's that I couldn't quite catch. The plants are shin to knee high and have leaves about an inch in diameter. The shape of the leaf reminds me most of a chrysanthemum or some grape leaves, or a maple leaf with shorter points/more rounded shape. It is not the edible chrysanthemum which they also grow. It's growth habit is similar to mint, though the stem is not square like mint. They harvest it by picking individual leaves similar to the way a person might pick off individual basil or bergarten sage leaves. One woman was able to convey to me that she cooks it by steaming it with rice. She also referred to the plant as nature's medicine. Some of the people like it so much that they have gotten a number of the non-Korean gardeners to let them weed it out of their (other people's) plots when the non-Korean gardeners, not knowing what it is, or plagued by it's mint-kudzu properties would have just composted it all. It's an early green in the spring (though I haven't noticed it as much as the ground ivy in the early spring, so I think it might green up shortly after it) and it lasts through the whole garden season, even now putting out young leaves. Sharon [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
[cg] advice please re paying a stipend to a gardener
Our garden has 100 plots and most of the people who garden go about their own business and do not help with communal jobs. This is despite people agreeing to help, signing up, etc. We have one gardener who has done most of the important routine tasks, like setting up and maintaining our water system, mowing common paths and areas, and dealing with any labour-intensive issue that arises. We would be lost without him but feel he is being taken for granted. Here's where the advice is needed: we would like to pay him a stipend, honorarium, whatever you want to call it, of maybe a couple of hundred dollars per season that he does this work. He knows nothing about this idea. The money's not a lot but at least it would recognise his importance to the continuance of the garden. We also have a significant amount in our budget so would not be adversely affecting the garden's financial situation. Appreciate any feedback; the committee has a meeting tomorrow(Thuirsday) night. Jude Carson Saint John, Canada
Re: [cg] Korean Vegetable/Herb [shi do/ Zi su]
is this the stuff? http://www.evergreenseeds.com/evergreenseeds/perjapshis.html __ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
Re: [cg] advice please re paying a stipend to a gardener
There is a big difference between recognizing people who do work above and beyond the call of duty for the benefit of all and paying people to do work. The former can be inspiring and heartwarming. The latter can lead people to think that they need not work unless they get paid. If you pay the guy who does the bulk of the work, you encourage the kind of entrenched leadership which was the subject of an exchange of emails a couple of weeks ago. My opinion would be to offer all kinds of recognition and praise and maybe a flashy gift, but do everything you can to avoid having it look like you are compensating him for the work he is doing. If you are going to compensate people for work, you should let people know that you intend to do that and then allow people to apply for the job. Jack N. Hale Executive Director Knox Parks Foundation 75 Laurel Street Hartford, CT 06106 860/951-7694 x11 f860/951-7244 -Original Message- From: Jude Carson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 10/06/2004 02:55 PM Our garden has 100 plots and most of the people who garden go about their own business and do not help with communal jobs. This is despite people agreeing to help, signing up, etc. We have one gardener who has done most of the important routine tasks, like setting up and maintaining our water system, mowing common paths and areas, and dealing with any labour-intensive issue that arises. We would be lost without him but feel he is being taken for granted. Here's where the advice is needed: we would like to pay him a stipend, honorarium, whatever you want to call it, of maybe a couple of hundred dollars per season that he does this work. He knows nothing about this idea. The money's not a lot but at least it would recognise his importance to the continuance of the garden. We also have a significant amount in our budget so would not be adversely affecting the garden's financial situation. Appreciate any feedback; the committee has a meeting tomorrow(Thuirsday) night. Jude Carson Saint John, Canada
Re: [cg] advice please re paying a stipend to a gardener
I'd agree that paying someone for such volunteer work should be a last resort after examining lots of alternatives and getting advise on re-engaging the garden members. In the long run, requiring people to do their part may be a bit hard, but a good waiting list will take care of this problem. Judy Tiger, Washington DC
Re: [cg] advice please re paying a stipend to a gardener
Thanks for the advice so far, and I think you are seeing that we are not comfortable with getting into a position that we pay someone for a volunteer position. Per haps we should go with a generous gist certificate, which we have done in the past. Really appreciate the input. Cheers from New Brunswick, Canada - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 5:55 PM Subject: Re: [cg] advice please re paying a stipend to a gardener I'd agree that paying someone for such volunteer work should be a last resort after examining lots of alternatives and getting advise on re-engaging the garden members. In the long run, requiring people to do their part may be a bit hard, but a good waiting list will take care of this problem. Judy Tiger, Washington DC
