On June 2, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined Governor David A. Paterson, elected officials and residents of Spring Creek Towers (“Starrett City”) to announce a new agreement designed to keep rents affordable at the sprawling Brooklyn housing complex. A Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the current owners, the New York City and State housing commissioners and HUD, lays out guidelines governing the sale of the massive properties and strict restrictions on any rent increases. Starrett City is the largest federal subsidized housing complex in the country, comprised of 5,881 affordable housing units.

“I commend Senator Schumer, Congressmembers Ed Towns and Nydia Velasquez, HUD, the New York State Housing and Finance Agency, and the NYC HPD, as well as the fighting tenants of Spring Creek — a.k.a. Starrett City — and groups like Acorn, as well as the owners of Starrett City, for their willingness to compromise for the good of all,” says BP Markowitz. “This broad coalition is as landmark and unprecedented as Starrett City itself—and it proves that negotiation between reasonable parties is possible. We have shown the marketplace what we mean when we say that Brooklyn and New York City are indeed ‘proud home to everyone from everywhere’— and we’re gonna make sure it stays that way.”