Housing & Development Task Force
Schedule:
Meets on the third Tuesday of each month unless noted otherwise
Co-Chairs:
Nina Petraro Bastardi, Esq., Farrell Fritz PC
Howard Stein, Partner at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP
Housing and Development Initiatives
AvalonBay at Huntington Station will bring $100 million in construction funds to Huntington's most economically-challenged community during this nation's worst economic downturn in decades. And when completed AvalonBay will bring over 360 families who could earn above $120,000 a year - with very few school children - families who will spend money for decades to come in Huntington Station's restaurants, shops and businesses. By choosing to live in Huntington Station, these families also will send a powerful message: this is a desirable community worth investing in and worth living in. AvalonBay is the very economic shot in the arm needed to revitalize Huntington Station. Finally, with 122 units of affordable workforce housing for families who could earn between $45,000 and $120,000 a year - most of it rental housing - AvalonBay will help stem the flight of young workers and senior citizens who can't find affordable housing in Huntington.
Task Force Update
The Housing & Development Task Force met on July 20th, and with a "full house" in attendance, the discussion of timely topics was lively and feedback insightful.
Judy White, speaking on behalf of AvalonBay, requested that the Task Force rally support for the proposed AvalonBay Huntington project by sending out e-mail blasts and asking everyone to be present and speak in support of the project at the hearing in September. The Task Force has and will continue to be supportive of this project as it would create the largest Transit-Oriented-Development (TOD) community on Long Island which is within walking distance from the Huntington LIRR Station, and would include over 100 units of workforce housing. Judy told the Task Force that the September meeting is the "end of the line," and should the project fail to obtain the approval of the Huntington Town Board at that time, AvalonBay will pull out from that site. This task force continues to be committed to helping Long Island's young adults and taking measures to stop the "brain drain", which includes registering the region's young adults to vote so that they will "have a voice."
Chairman Shelly Sackstein asked the attendees if they knew of any mixed use or large residential projects approved and "ready to go" in our region, other than AvalonBay. With no affirmative responses, a discussion ensued about the need for Long Island residents, the municipalities, and the politicians to change their view of Long Island housing, as without height and density, developers will not build less expensive housing options, as it is cost prohibitive; and without a change, Long Island will not prosper. It was also reported that the current lending guidelines were making it difficult to build housing projects.
The next meeting of the Housing and Development Task Force is scheduled for August 17, 2010. Please join us.
Housing and Development Taskforce Meeting on 4/21/09
From left: Chris Capece (AvalonBay Communities, Inc), Sheldon Sackstein (Sackstein & Co.), Supervisor Frank Petrone (Town of Huntington), Erica Kaplan (Action LI), Andrew Cambria (Metlife and LI Jr Chamber), Kevin Clyne (Herman Katz Cangemi & Clyne, LLP)
Issues:
• Support housing for young adults
• Support zoning incentive legislation
• Support vertical growth
• Work toward lowering property taxes (school taxes)
• Support tax benefits for first time home buyers
• Support corporate campus housing joint ventures
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