Brooklyn Residents Protest Sudden Shelter Plan After Promised Housing Vanishes

It’s hard not to feel blindsided when something you were promised turns into something completely different — especially when no one really tells you it’s happening. That’s more or less what’s been playing out in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, where hundreds of residents took to the streets after a planned affordable housing site suddenly shifted toward becoming a homeless shelter.

The site, located at 2134 Coyle Street, had been approved back in 2021 for a five-story building with *120 residential units*, and around 36 of those were supposed to be permanently affordable. That was the deal. People got behind it. Community board said yes. But now? It’s something else entirely.

What Changed — And Why People Are Upset

Apparently, after the original developer walked away from the project, city officials moved ahead with a new plan — a 175-unit shelter for families without housing. But here’s the thing: residents say that shift happened in 2023 with no further discussion. No notices. No updated vote. Just… a quiet change.

By Sunday, that quiet change turned into something very loud. Crowds gathered, chanting things like “Vote them out” while holding signs that read “No shelters near playgrounds or schools” and “Children’s safety first.” The message was clear — it wasn’t just about the shelter, it was about trust and how that trust felt broken.

Curtis Sliwa Leads the Protest

Among those leading the charge was Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and a former mayoral candidate. He didn’t hold back. “This was supposed to be housing people could afford,” he told the crowd. “Now it’s something entirely different, and nobody asked you about it.”

In a post on social media, Sliwa doubled down. “The mayor’s hiding. The candidates are quiet. But we’re not. We were promised homes — not another shelter.”

Concerns Go Beyond Politics

It’s easy to paint this as just another city-versus-community clash, but the conversations on the ground are a bit more complicated. Some protestors admitted they weren’t against shelters in principle — they just didn’t feel safe with one opening near schools and parks without proper planning or engagement.

Fruma Feldman, a 21-year-old resident, told The New York Post something that felt… surprisingly thoughtful. “I know people who are homeless,” she said. “And even they don