Preserving Affordability at Westchester West

Residents in Westchester West Apartments were deeply concerned when they received notice that their building was being sold. New ownership often means rent increases and other changes that hurt existing tenants.

Tenants, many of whom are parents we work with through their school, told AIM about their fears. Our first conversations with public officials were discouraging. Only through persistent follow-up with the County Executive, Housing Department, and Councilmember Natali Fani Gonzales were we able get the county to exercise its “Right of First Refusal” to enable a nonprofit developer to purchase the property in order to maintain its affordability.

The Housing Initiative Fund, which AIM has championed for over 20 years, was used to subsidize the purchase of the 345 units and ensure affordability for decades to come. It was especially rewarding to see our work on different aspects of affordable housing come together to benefit the families we work with. Without the tenant leadership and AIM’s collective power, it would not have happened.

Resident Flor Veliz said, “With AIM I feel like all of the campaigns are in our own interest, we don’t feel like they are using us for other purposes, like we have with other groups. Before I was active in AIM I felt alone with my family, but now I feel like I have a bigger family.”

Read news coverage of the victory here.

Photo credits: David Choy