Political Leaders Support Mountco Developers at Burton Towers’ Tenants Rally

State Senator William Larkin (standing), Mayor Valentine and Councilwoman Bello came to the tenants meeting to show their support for Mountco.

By Nancy Peckenham

Three prominent politicians came out Thursday afternoon to rally in support of an effort by Mountco Construction and Development Corporation to purchase Burton Towers, a federally-subsidized apartment house that is the focus of a rift between the city of Newburgh and its Housing Authority.

The three addressed members of the Burton Towers Tenant Association, many of the senior or disabled residents who occupy the building’s 126 apartments, who filled the community room, holding hand-printed signs with slogans like “Mountco Yes.”

Members of the Burton Towers Tenant Association held signs in support of Mountco developers while they listened to the political leaders.

Mountco is one of two developers that are seeking to partner with either the city of Newburgh or its Housing Authority to buy the eight-story, 126-unit building from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for one dollar. Three weeks ago the city council voted to accept the proposal from Mountco to purchase and renovate the building that has a severely crippled elevator system and deteriorating conditions throughout the apartments and public areas. (See earlier story)

Shortly after that vote, the city’s Housing Authority signed an agreement to partner with a competing developer, Wilder Balter Partners, and told HUD of their offer to purchase the building. Trouble is, HUD cannot be forced to choose between the two offers and told city officials that the property will go on the auction block to the highest bidder next week, which will mean a loss of more than two million dollars in mortgage payments that could be invested in the rehabilitation of the tower.

At Tuesday’s rally, Newburgh Mayor Nicholas Valentine praised Mountco’s track record, including the work done on the renovation of Safe Harbors of the Hudson’s building and the Ritz Theater on Broadway. “I’m here to support you in the demand that the Newburgh Housing Authority advises HUD that it revokes its request,” Valentine told the room with some 50 members of the tenant’s group, saying city government wants to give the tenants a voice they haven’t had in the past.

City councilwoman Christine Bello, who is the Republican candidate for mayor in the November election, also spoke in favor of Mountco, then introduced state Senator Bill Larkin, who said he had re-arranged his schedule to attend the rally. Larkin said the politicians and Mountco have one objective, to provide a safe clean facility that meets state standards. “You have five city council members who you elected,” Larkin said, “they studied the proposals and went with Mountco.” Housing Authority board members are appointed.

Housing Authority board member argued that her associates are also interested in a "humanitarian" solution for the problems facing Burton Towers residents.

Gay Lee, a member of the Housing Authority board who is also running for election to city council, spoke from the audience, saying she was offended by the negative comments about the housing authority. “”Our goal is to help the residents,” she said. “I’d like to put this off the political agenda.”

George Long, the president of the Burton Towers Tenant Association, talked about the conditions in the building that need to be fixed and how a representative of Mountco Development came in to talk about how they could resolve the problems. One of two elevators in the building has been inoperable since last year. The second one works intermittently. “Now everyone is trying to get on the band wagon,” Long said. “The Newburgh Housing Authority called me this morning.”

Residents Carl Dubois (r) and Edward Caldwell just want the building and elevators fixed.

Tenant Carl Dubois echoed his sentiment. His friend Edward Caldwell gets around in wheelchair and he lives on the top floor of Burton Towers. Earlier this week, Caldwell pressed the button to call the only working elevator in the building and found it inoperable. He spent the rest of the day stuck on his floor. It’s a situation that city fire chief Michael Vatter described months ago as a nightmare scenario if a fire or other disaster struck. “All the politicians are fighting and we’re caught in the building,” Caldwell said.

Mayor Valentine says he won’t give up until Mountco is allowed to take over the building and implement the upgrades it has planned. “We will do everything as a city to make sure that Burton Towers is delivered to Mountco before next week, “ he said. That would require the Housing Authority and its chosen developer, Wilder Barter Partners, to withdraw their offer. That’s unlikely, according to the housing authority’s attorney Alan Lipman, “unless Moses strikes a rock.”