Oct 1, 2019 3:15 PMA panel including state and local lawmakers, real estate agents and developers will tackle the topic of affordable housing on Friday, in what will be the second “Press Session” to take place at Union Cantina in Southampton Village in the past month.
The panel will consist of Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman; State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr.; Diana Weir, the Southampton Town director of housing and community development; Michael Daly, a member of the Town Zoning Board of Appeals who is also a real estate agent and founder of the group East End YIMBY, or “Yes In My Back Yard”; and Ralph Fasano, the executive director of Concern for Independent Living, which is proposing a 60-unit affordable housing development in Southampton.
While the need to create affordable housing is recognized by many people in the community, efforts are often stymied by those who do not want the housing in their neighborhoods out of fear that it could impact the value of their homes or increase density and traffic, among other things.
Mr. Fasano recently proposed the construction of a 60-unit affordable housing development behind the Southampton Full Gospel Church near the intersection of North Sea Road and County Road 39.
While people like Mr. Daly have shown support for the project, others, including Town Board members, have expressed concern about traffic flow in and out of the development, proximity to nearby housing and density.
Other projects, like the eight-building, 38-unit affordable housing complex at 41 North Phillips Avenue in Speonk, known as Speonk Commons, have been reduced in size through the application process and numerous public hearings. In fact, the application for Speonk Commons was met with strong opposition at first when the developer, Georgica Green, asked to have a 51-unit development constructed — it was reduced to 38 units.
Mr. Schneiderman has made the search for more affordable housing one of his main goals as town supervisor since taking office in 2016.
As property values continue to rise, people who work on the East End are finding it more difficult to find a place to live.
One solution Mr. Schneiderman worked on to get more affordable housing for people in the workforce was to loosen the accessory apartment law and make it easier for homeowners to set up apartment rentals at their residences.
In 2020, a proposal to add a real estate transfer tax similar to the 2 percent Community Preservation Fund tax is expected to make its way through the state level, and if approved, could help fund affordable housing projects on the East End.
While many people oppose these projects, the search for balance is underway.
The Press Session, Young Families & Our Workforce: Addressing Affordable Housing Crisis, will take place at noon on Friday at Union Cantina on Bowden Square in Southampton Village. Tickets for the event are $35, and are limited.
You've read 1 of 7 free articles this month.
Already a subscriber? Sign in
There is no altruism here. Very few east end residents benefit from these projects and the existing community pays for them with the increased density. For example, HB maximum capacity of the three schools is approximately 2,000 students and we are at capacity. A few dozen more children and there may be a need for an additional school. Who is going to pay for that? Some builders, business owners and real estate agents are behind the HBDOD so they can individually benefit at the expense of the entire community.. Most of these projects are self-serving and detrimental to the east end. So sad that we have such weak leadership at Town Hall.
A number of companies that have considered moving here sited the lack of housing that is affordable for their employees as a reason for not opening their business here. But I agree, we need more, better paying jobs on the East End.