Local elected officials commit $650,000 to support affordable housing improvements in Jamaica – QNS

Local elected officials presented a check for $650,000. Greater Allen Development Corporation (GADC) on Friday to support affordable housing at the Allen Cathedral Apartments in Jamaica.

Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-28), along with Council Members Selvina Brooks Powers (D-31) and Nantasha Williams (D-28), committed the capital match during a ceremony at 169-28 110th Road, where community leaders gathered to celebrate investments in the housing stock of the region.

GADC is a community development corporation that promotes responsible, community-centered economic growth. It was a key player in South Jamaica and was created to meet local housing and development needs.

The funding will replace an elevator at the Affordable Housing Development, which stakeholders say is a long-awaited renovation. The complex has not undergone any major capital improvements since it was built over fifteen years ago. Over time, the building’s elevators stopped working, resulting in residents having to travel throughout the complex to access working elevators. Funds will also be used to repair the facility’s roof.

“As a grassroots affordable housing organization, one of the challenges we face is that sometimes after years of a project, funding becomes a little tight…sometimes we run into things that the budget can’t cover,” Harold Hassan said. Flake, president of the Greater Allen Development Corporation. Flake added that relationships developed with local elected officials are important because they fill gaps and provide funding for much-needed repairs.

A trio of elected officials spoke in support of the legacy of former lead pastor of Greater Allan AME Cathedral Church, former U.S. House of Representatives member Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake, and his commitment to the southeast Queens community. “We stand on the shoulders of Reverend Floyd Flake here in southeast Queens. To be part of a leadership that can truly continue to exist… his dream means everything to me personally. Especially those of us who were raised by the church across the street… it’s very personal to us.” Adams said.

Council Member Brooks Powers echoed Speaker Adams’ sentiments, saying, “We have a responsibility to create…education, housing, and just be a place of great pride and joy.”

“The thing about Southeast Queens is that I often call us a community without walls. Because we have large institutions in southeast Queens that really support all of us, no matter where we are physically located…it’s really important to make sure that these institutions have the resources they need,” Brooks-Powers said.

In closing remarks, Council Member Williams said the funding provided an opportunity to give money directly to the local community: “I’m just excited to be able to partner with the Speaker and our Majority Whip (Brooks Powers) to continue to support Allen,” she said.

During Reverend Flake’s 41 years as pastor, Allen AME Church became one of the leading Christian churches in the country. The church owns a number of commercial and residential developments, including a 600-student private school founded by Flake and his wife Elaine, and other social service missions, including Greater Allen Development Corporation, Allen AME Senior Community Center and Allen AME Senior Housing.