Pacific Dean Shelter, Dean Street, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York
If you’re looking for some way to respond positively to Forest City Ratner’s Atlantic Yards project, here’s one very urgent possibility:
As part of the Atlantic Yards project, Forest City Ratner plans to demolish the Pacific Dean Annex family shelter, located in the section of the footprint to be developed during the project’s second phase. There is no committed date for the construction of the residential buildings or open space proposed for the second phase, so in the meantime FCR plans to use the site for construction staging and, later, a surface parking lot for its arena.
The 88 families occupying the facility were recently told that they are required to leave by January 15. Shelter operators and the NYC Department of Homeless Services are working to find permanent housing for these families. Families unable to find permanent housing by the deadline will be transferred to another shelter. Some resident families have lived in the shelter for a year and a half or more. According to shelter management, the displaced families are receiving no assistance from the developer.
The Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council has established a fund to accept donations for relocation assistance to the shelter families. PHNDC will work with DHS to distribute all money raised to needy families. Community members can donate through this online form. When completing the form, please indicate you’d like your donation to be used for the “Pacific Dean Shelter Family Relocation Fund”. Your donation is tax deductible, so be sure to contribute before December 31!
Thank you for your generous contribution, and happy holidays from PHNDC.
