Organizing to secure a Community Land Trust (CLT) in Loisaida

Sixth Street Community Center (SSCC) is partnering with Cooper Square Committee and This Land is Ours CLT on a response to NYCHA's request for expressions of interest (RFEI), whereby we are proposing to co-develop very low income housing at 642 - 648 East 6th Street, the lot adjacent to our community center. Our goal is to create much needed affordable housing and substantial community space for the residents and the larger NYCHA community living in the LES 2 and LES 6 sites. Click here for more info. on the E 6th St. site.

Our vision is to expand our community's stock of low income apartments, while ensuring the affordability of the units for generations to come.  Expanded community space for youth and teens, a food co-op to expand food access, clean energy or solar co-op and workers center are also part of the vision which distinguishes our CLT from other previous models.  The development itself will be an energy efficient passive building, serving as a local model for urban sustainability.  

We had a successful community meeting on Sept. 15, 2021 with over 20 participants and another large community forum on Sept. 22, 2022 with 75 participants. Building robust community support for this Community Land Trust which concerns the future of our public land is critically important. 

Check out some recent coverage by the Indypendent. Join our mailing list to stay up to date with upcoming events and planning sessions -- come share your ideas! We have started collecting petitions in support of this plan to present to the Mayor's Administration. Volunteers are welcome to assist with this effort.

SSCC has historically been part of the CLT movement dating back to the 1980s. Pictured above and below are photos of our Executive Director, Howard Brandstein, organizing and marching with other Lower East Side residents for CLTs and affordable housing. Photo above by Brian Patrick O'Donoghue and photos below by Marlis Momber 1986. 


For those interested in digging deeper into the history of CLTs on the Lower East Side:

Attached are two pieces written in the 1980s on developing a CLT in the LES (the first CLT ever in NYC) followed by the Cooper Square CLT.
Photos below of our recent Sept. 2022 meeting. Sixth Street Community Center with Cooper Square Committee and This Land is Ours at La Plaza Cultural Community Garden discussing visions for the CLT with community members. 
Upcoming Events:

Walk for Affordable Housing, Saturday, Nov. 12 @ 12p. Meet at 326 E 5th Street! 
Previous Event Flyers: