Is the developer going to start paying taxes now that he is able to jack up the rent 8% annually? Or is the developer going to continue to receive the PILOT tax credit?? As a taxpayer who owns two homes in Croton and pays a lot of property taxes, I feel like this is a total scam. I also feel bad for the residents who probably thought their rent would only increase 2% per year.
Caveat emptor, or in this case, renter beware. It is extremely important to look at the apartment lease documentation to make sure one understands how long the lease is (1 year, 2 year, 3 year, etc.), what are the possible rent increases after the lease is up for renewal, what are lease violations, etc. As a village taxpayer, I feel I am paying for the developer to reap a financial windfall.
Another boondoggle in our "sleepy little village". Either the developers of this type project are a lot smarter than the village officials who oversee them or --?
One party government is seldom good for the little guy!
This seems like the ultimate bait and switch and it’s a shame for the tenants.
In my opinion, an ill-conceived project from the start with the intention of having politicians look good and the town projecting a fake righteous and pro-housing aura to the outside. The main winners are the politicians and management/developer.
If the argument is to keep up with maintenance and landscaping of a brand new building that doesn’t have descent landscaping, that really doesn’t cut it or help the people who moved in.
This place is a total scam. Is not way I have to pay over 3,200$ plus a conned bill between $300-500 monthly and they still insist on telling ppl how affordable this is.
I apologize, didn’t realize there were 3 bedroom apartments there. That’s a really unfair increase and frankly outrageous that it’s allowed considering Maple Commons is affordable housing.
My apologies, really. That’s insane. Market rate apartment landlords aren’t allowed to increase by 8.4%, I believe Westchester County only allows in the neighborhood of 3-5%, depending on the lease term.
I am very sorry for the people who thought that their prayers were answered when they won the housing lottery and moved. I can't blame anyone for not reading or understanding the fine print on their leases because an 8% increase on so called affordable housing makes no sense.
However, we now have candidate options when voting in the next Village elections and have the opportunity to halt this nonsense.
Can you press Regan / RDC on their willingness to offer side-agreements for payment deferral or other creative arrangements to residents challenged by this big first increase?
It's one thing to say that long-term fiscal stability means they can't leave allowed increases on the table under present circumstances (IDK, but plausible); it's another to say they're either already desperate for the cashflow or effectively indifferent to the bait-and-switch effect this could have on lessees.
So the Croton Chronical should press Regan / RDC on their willingness to offer side-agreements for payment deferral or other creative arrangements to residents challenged by this big first increase? They are doing their job quite well in bringing this travesty to our attention. It is up to the Croton officials to pushed for and planned this mess to do something about it!
That is correct. While we can engage in advocacy journalism, an important tradition in American media, it’s up to others to carry out the actual actions.
Apparently something in my tone was off here - I figured when I said "can you" I was asking a yes-or-no question for participatory brainstorming, not ... idk, shooting the messenger? I agree bringing this to light is really well done, that's why I $upport.
@Michael do I understand correctly that you're saying you could try to ask them that question if it had already become a specifically newsworthy question / been broached as a matter of interest in the public record, but it would be inappropriate or infeasible for a journalist to bring it up de novo?
I published the mayor’s statement saying that he hoped the management would be able to do something for the tenants. I also made it clear that the chronicle editorially was in favor of that happening. That’s really all I’m prepared to say right now. Putting pressure on the management is now the job of others..
First of all this developer is all heart. Did he have to go for the top rent hike. NO but he is in business and all for himself. I thought affordable housing was for people to be able to afford their apartments. Does he have to pay the PILOT tax to Croton every year or just one time. Not sure how this works. Anyone
So he raises the rent 8%, increases the PILOT by 3%, and pockets the rest. Meanwhile the mayor and his friends all get a reduction in their property taxes next year under the nice little scheme they cooked up. What a joke.
I know legally in NY rent can only be raised 10% per year. Is that true for low income apartments as well? I’m not in a low income apartment but my rent does go up 10% every year as do most rentals around her unfortunately. It’s really difficult to stay afloat.
Westchester County rules dictate roughly 2.5% and 3.5% on 1 and 2 year leases, or something around there. Not sure what kind of apartment you live in, but 10% increases year over year sound excessive.
Is the developer going to start paying taxes now that he is able to jack up the rent 8% annually? Or is the developer going to continue to receive the PILOT tax credit?? As a taxpayer who owns two homes in Croton and pays a lot of property taxes, I feel like this is a total scam. I also feel bad for the residents who probably thought their rent would only increase 2% per year.
Nothing in the contracts and arrangements concerning Maple Commons will change at the present time.
Thanks Michael for explaining the PILOT .
Caveat emptor, or in this case, renter beware. It is extremely important to look at the apartment lease documentation to make sure one understands how long the lease is (1 year, 2 year, 3 year, etc.), what are the possible rent increases after the lease is up for renewal, what are lease violations, etc. As a village taxpayer, I feel I am paying for the developer to reap a financial windfall.
Another boondoggle in our "sleepy little village". Either the developers of this type project are a lot smarter than the village officials who oversee them or --?
One party government is seldom good for the little guy!
This seems like the ultimate bait and switch and it’s a shame for the tenants.
In my opinion, an ill-conceived project from the start with the intention of having politicians look good and the town projecting a fake righteous and pro-housing aura to the outside. The main winners are the politicians and management/developer.
If the argument is to keep up with maintenance and landscaping of a brand new building that doesn’t have descent landscaping, that really doesn’t cut it or help the people who moved in.
Does NYS cover some of this 8% rent increases?
These units are subsidized by the state so in turn our taxes cover the increased costs?
By the way, the management company/landscape looks awful.
There is no grass it’s all weeds. It’s an eye sore.
I would have preferred a wild flower/pollinator garden landscape design.
The broken bus stop window with yellow caution tape is a nice touch!
This place is a total scam. Is not way I have to pay over 3,200$ plus a conned bill between $300-500 monthly and they still insist on telling ppl how affordable this is.
Are you a tenant there?
Yes
Please get in touch privately at TheCrotonChronicle@gmail.com so I can talk to you more. Thank you.
No one pays $3,200 in monthly rent at Maple Commons.
With the increase, yes, some of us
will be... Myself included.
I apologize, didn’t realize there were 3 bedroom apartments there. That’s a really unfair increase and frankly outrageous that it’s allowed considering Maple Commons is affordable housing.
Do the math $2,964 plus 8.4% that’s equivalent to 3,212.
My apologies, really. That’s insane. Market rate apartment landlords aren’t allowed to increase by 8.4%, I believe Westchester County only allows in the neighborhood of 3-5%, depending on the lease term.
I am very sorry for the people who thought that their prayers were answered when they won the housing lottery and moved. I can't blame anyone for not reading or understanding the fine print on their leases because an 8% increase on so called affordable housing makes no sense.
However, we now have candidate options when voting in the next Village elections and have the opportunity to halt this nonsense.
This 8.4% increase is most likely double what a market rate landlord is allowed.
Don’t forget! Lot A @100% affordable is on the horizon. What last minute changes are in store there?
Can you press Regan / RDC on their willingness to offer side-agreements for payment deferral or other creative arrangements to residents challenged by this big first increase?
It's one thing to say that long-term fiscal stability means they can't leave allowed increases on the table under present circumstances (IDK, but plausible); it's another to say they're either already desperate for the cashflow or effectively indifferent to the bait-and-switch effect this could have on lessees.
So the Croton Chronical should press Regan / RDC on their willingness to offer side-agreements for payment deferral or other creative arrangements to residents challenged by this big first increase? They are doing their job quite well in bringing this travesty to our attention. It is up to the Croton officials to pushed for and planned this mess to do something about it!
That is correct. While we can engage in advocacy journalism, an important tradition in American media, it’s up to others to carry out the actual actions.
Apparently something in my tone was off here - I figured when I said "can you" I was asking a yes-or-no question for participatory brainstorming, not ... idk, shooting the messenger? I agree bringing this to light is really well done, that's why I $upport.
@Michael do I understand correctly that you're saying you could try to ask them that question if it had already become a specifically newsworthy question / been broached as a matter of interest in the public record, but it would be inappropriate or infeasible for a journalist to bring it up de novo?
I published the mayor’s statement saying that he hoped the management would be able to do something for the tenants. I also made it clear that the chronicle editorially was in favor of that happening. That’s really all I’m prepared to say right now. Putting pressure on the management is now the job of others..
First of all this developer is all heart. Did he have to go for the top rent hike. NO but he is in business and all for himself. I thought affordable housing was for people to be able to afford their apartments. Does he have to pay the PILOT tax to Croton every year or just one time. Not sure how this works. Anyone
The pilot is paid annually over 30 years with a 3% increase each year.
So he raises the rent 8%, increases the PILOT by 3%, and pockets the rest. Meanwhile the mayor and his friends all get a reduction in their property taxes next year under the nice little scheme they cooked up. What a joke.
In Croton, all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
I know legally in NY rent can only be raised 10% per year. Is that true for low income apartments as well? I’m not in a low income apartment but my rent does go up 10% every year as do most rentals around her unfortunately. It’s really difficult to stay afloat.
Westchester County rules dictate roughly 2.5% and 3.5% on 1 and 2 year leases, or something around there. Not sure what kind of apartment you live in, but 10% increases year over year sound excessive.