In July, Governor Paterson signed into law legislation that extends affordable housing for another 30 years to the tenants of the 5,881-unit Starrett City housing complex in Brooklyn – the nation’s largest publicly assisted affordable housing complex.

That law allows the owners to refinance the complex, providing at least $40 million for capital improvements to existing structures, facilities and apartment interiors, and as a result, Starrett City remains in the Mitchell-Lama affordable housing program.

The revised regulations will take effect on November 10. The complete revisions can be viewed on the DHCR website at http://www.dhcr.state.ny.us.

The following statements were given in support of the Mitchell-Lama regulation reforms:

Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson said: “The Mitchell-Lama housing program was established to create housing for low- and moderate-income families. The reforms announced by the Governor will ensure families struggling to make ends meet will still have affordable housing options and owners will have more incentive to remain in the program, a win-win for New Yorkers striving to succeed in these difficult times.”

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: “The Assembly is committed to increasing the availability and preserving the quality of affordable housing provided through the Mitchell-Lama program. We hope that reviewing these regulations will help to sustain this program, which benefits working people in New York City and upstate. This year, the Assembly once again passed legislation to preserve and expand the program, which will protect Mitchell-Lama tenants from being thrust into an extremely competitive housing market. I thank Governor Paterson and Commissioner VanAmerongen for evaluating this important program.”

Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr., Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development, said: “The Mitchell-Lama program is a vital source of quality, affordable housing for low and moderate-income and working families in the five boroughs and throughout the State. At a time when the City is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis and residents are experiencing financial difficulties during this economic recession, these comprehensive reforms will help maintain this important affordable housing stream.”

Assemblyman Vito Lopez, Chair of the Assembly Housing Committee, said: “I welcome any improvements that will help retain Mitchell-Lama developments and protect tenants from administrative hurdles. The Mitchell-Lama program has been an integral source of housing for working people for more than four decades and must be sustained. I thank Governor Paterson and Commissioner VanAmerongen for looking for ways to assist tenants and preserve Mitchell-Lama.”

Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, Chair of the Subcommittee on Mitchell-Lama Housing, said: “It is imperative that State government act to protect Mitchell-Lama residents and pro-actively encourage the preservation of current units as affordable housing. Working toward a goal that is mutually beneficial to owners and tenants by maintaining current Mitchell-Lama housing and streamlining the regulatory process is laudable, and it is my hope that these new regulations will achieve this goal.”

Richard Singer, co-Chair of the Affordable Housing Subcommittee of the New York State Bar Association, said: “My colleagues and I were happy to participate in the process of streamlining and modernizing the Mitchell-Lama regulations. We commend DHCR, Governor Paterson and Commissioner VanAmerongen for taking on this endeavor, and for reaching out to the public and to the Bar Association for our input.”