What about the good news?
It’s easy for the media to focus on what’s wrong with Mount Vernon, but what about the good news?
On Wednesday morning, the Mount Vernon Industrial Development Agency’s president L. Marilyn Crawford challenged the media to fully report on what is happening in Mount Vernon.
“We’re making a lot of progress. And no matter what is read, what is written that is negative or toxic, this is a foundation of phenomenal people who have a lot of talent and the business community has recognized that,” said President Crawford, referring to the new administration and staff guiding the Mount Vernon IDA.
She also challenged The Journal News/lohud.com to report a full picture of what’s happening in Mount Vernon.
“We would like to have a positive story about Mount Vernon because we deserve it. We’ve worked hard for it, we’ve earned it.”
Mayor Richard Thomas said there is more progress on the way.
“Mount Vernon has completed a couple of very key studies that talk about jobs, jobs, jobs. That’s the Art & Culture Master Plan. That’s the South Fourth Avenue Plan to bring industry, sports, and entertainment back into the City.” said Mayor Thomas. “The steps are being taken to change the false narrative and false perception of the city.”
Among the Mount Vernon IDA’s most recent accomplishments is the preservation of affordable housing.
For example, one of the MVIDA’s successes in 2018 was a $20 million deal designed to renovate and keep affordable rental housing for 99 households at Oakwood Gardens on E. Lincoln Avenue. The MVIDA gave Oakwood Gardens’ owner a payment in lieu of taxes agreement, plus breaks on sales and mortgage recording taxes.
The tax breaks weren’t a giveaway. They were for a higher purpose: to create construction jobs and improve the city’s affordable housing stock for years to come.
That’s what the MVIDA is also doing with Sandford Terrace, a 55-unit senior residential complex that houses senior making less than 50 percent of the area median income, which essentially means the complex is for low-income seniors.
Without tax breaks, developers or landlords can’t afford to keep their projects affordable. While the MVIDA is thrilled to promote market-rate and luxury housing, the agency has a responsibility to preserve affordable housing.
It’s the Mount Vernon IDA’s mission: to promote prosperity for the people of Mount Vernon.
