Clinton Hill Mitchell Lama residents vote against privatization

Majority of residents voted to keep the St. James Towers affordable

Last week, residents of the St. James Towers in Clinton Hill had to decide between keeping the building in the city's Mitchell-Lama affordable housing program or to allow for privatization, following in the footsteps of co-ops like the Financial District's Southbridge Towers.

The possibility of turning 326 affordable units market-rate divided residents and garnered the attention of politicians, but after a vote last week, the majority have decided to keep St. James Towers affordable, reports the Brooklyn Paper. That move will ensure affordability for future residents; privatization, meanwhile, would have allowed current residents to make bank should they decide to sell their below-market rate apartments.

Though the city cannot interfere with the voting outcome, local officials did their best to influence apartment owners to say no to privatization. At a rally, Public Advocate Letitia James urged people to "be concerned about the next generation as opposed to [their] own pocketbooks."

• Mitchell-calmer: Clinton Hill co-op residents vote against privatization [Brooklyn Paper]
• Clinton Hill Mitchell Lama residents will vote on whether to go private [Curbed]
• Mitchell-drama! Clinton Hill co-op at war over whether to cash in [Brooklyn Paper]