Protesters rip NYC for replacing promised affordable housing building with homeless shelter: ‘Bait and switch’

Enraged Brooklyn residents are accusing the city of a “bait and switch” to replace a building slated for affordable housing with a new homeless shelter.

Hundreds of protesters — including parents, business owners and local politicians — rallied in Sheepshead Bay Tuesday, chanting “who decides” outside the controversial lot on Coyle Street.

The group said they felt duped by city officials, and raised concerns that the shelter could bring skyrocketing crime to their otherwise sleepy residential neighborhood.

“They tricked us. They lied. And when you lie — the truth always comes out,” said Michelle Crisafulli, 71, who lives just a short walk from the proposed site.

“They got caught. And we ain’t letting go because that is not going to be a homeless shelter. By no means,” the retired school crosswalk guard told The Post.

“It’s aggravating to me to know when I own my property — I feel like they’re just stepping on my face, you know? And it’s not right … I’m not letting go, I’m like a pitbull on the bone.”

The lot at 2134 Coyle Street is expected to open this summer as the district’s first long-term homeless shelter, housing 169 families, with a preference for those already living in the community, according to City Hall.

The site was eyed for years as an affordable housing project, and in 2022, the City Council OK’ed it as a mixed-use development with 119 dwelling units and ground-floor retail space.

But those plans shifted the following year when the original developer dropped the project.

Westhab, a not-for-profit developer, swept in and drew up plans to create the first long-term homeless shelter in City Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse’s district, which also includes parts of Bergen Beach, Canarsie and Gerritsen Beach.

City officials sent a July 2023 letter to Narcisse alerting her of the change — but the councilmember fumed that the community should have been consulted before the shelter plans were put in place.

“I’m not going to come in front of my community, tell them one thing, and then switch to something else without getting them to be part of it,” Narcisse told The Post — slamming the city’s reversal on the affordable housing project as “dishonest.”

Guardian Angels founder Curtis Silwa alleged that an influx of homeless people would trigger an explosion of crime in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood, despite the development being slated for families.

“A homeless shelter means uncontrolled men and others roaming the streets with no oversight whatsoever. No vetting, no medical checks, because it’s a money game. There are contracts. And from that, there are kickbacks. You make more money housing homeless people and then building affordable housing,” the Republican mayoral candidate claimed.

The concern about crime was shared by many of the protesters, who pointed that the shelter would be near the numerous daycare centers that line Avenue U, as well as the elementary and middle schools just several blocks away.

“I live over there. My children always walk here. We want more safety,” said local barber and hair stylist, Joe Chen, 46, who was gathering signatures for a petition urging the city to stop the planned shelter.

But City Hall said the shelter will open as planned this summer.

“This site will be the first-of-its-kind in the council district and will offer 169 homeless families — including school-aged children — the support they need to get on their feet and ultimately into permanent housing. This facility will also prioritize placements for those already in the community,” a City Hall spokesperson said in a statement.

“The city first notified local elected officials of our plans to open this shelter over 18 months ago, in July of 2023, long before its expected completion. While the decision to alter the plans for this site was made by the private owner, not the city, we will continue to work with the community to address all concerns,” the rep said. “Our focus lies squarely on ensuring that every community has adequate resources to support their neighbors in need.”

According to the Department of Social Services, Westhab will staff the building with security that will conduct community patrols to protect both its residents and neighbors.