VIDEO: Residents Rally Against 6-Story Development

On Saturday, June 2, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., residents and members of the Herking Alagantic Block Association stood protested outside of an empty lot located at Herkimer Street against plans by The Bridge to build a mixed-use residence that will house mentally ill and poor residents.

Block association members say their block already is oversurated with similar social services residencies, and that they were not inlcluded nor consulted in the decision to move the project forward.

, CEO of the Bridge acknowledged in a letter that while the presence of persons with mental illness in the community raises concern for many and the stigma towards persons with mental illness continues, the goal was to enhance the community by providing quality housing to persons with special needs and the community at large.

"As residents, we are not prejudiced against the population," said the block association vice-president, Nikita Bowen, at the rally. "We just believe our area is already overpopulated and oversaturated with social services programs."