Affordable Housing in Bedford: It Does Exist

Two Lakeside Townhouses, on Haines Road in Bedford Hills, have become available, according to the Blue Mountain Housing Development Corporation. The housing group's managing agent, A-HOME, offered the houses to the top two applicants on the approved housing list.

At their April 9 meeting, board members reviewed each of the properties currently under their stewardship and discussed plans for acquiring other properties.

Blue Mountain, which was created by the town board in 1980, is tasked with creating affordable housing for local individuals and families. The 10-member, town-appointed volunteer board oversees the management and acquisition of properties and manages the housing eligibility process as well.

As chairman Tom McGrath explained, "The town of Bedford has more affordable housing than most people realize. We also have a number of lending and grant products for assisting people with building an affordable accessory apartment, down payment assistance for first time home buyers and deferred loan programs for not-for-profits that are developing affordable housing."

On the property management side, several jobs are going forward.

These include replacing all the windows at Fellowship Hall, a former Mitchell-Lama housing development on Babbit Road that has made a 40-year commitment to remaining affordable housing. The window replacements will raise residents' maintenance fees about $50. Doyle House on North Katonah Avenue, owned by Blue Mountain and managed by A-HOMES, will be getting a new coat of exterior paint after the bids come in.

Talk then turned to several possible property acquisitions including, among others, Woodcrest in Mt. Kisco, the Merv Blank property on McClain Street, and Bailey Hall in Katonah.

Woodcrest Village Condominiums is a senior housing community, but because of Bedford's "property toe" or access to the site, it's likely the town will be granted seven units for inclusion in the Blue Mountain housing inventory.

The 12-acre property at 172 and McLain Street is a development proposed by Merv Blank, called Bedford Park South, of 34 market-rate condominiums and 12 affordable rentals. The subject of one public work session already, the project has endured scrutiny by area residents fearing traffic, noise and negative environmental impact.

Rezoning is required before the project can go forward. While Blue Mountain supports the development, it's far from approved.  Residents will be able to address the town board at a public town meeting later this month; their rezoning decision will be made following the hearing.

Bailey Hall, a proposed Katonah subdivision, is required to make 10% of its properties affordable housing. It may, in lieu of doing so, make a payment to the town's housing authority. That money would then be used to develop other affordable housing.

McGrath informed the board of his upcoming inspection of a 10-acre parcel of land on Route 22 that may come available for development. Other board members familiar with the parcel commented on the steepness of the property's access road and shear drop off with a huge swamp at the bottom, which may reduce the parcel's affordability for development.

They also mulled over the impact of the Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) rejection of Westchester County's housing plan. Blue Mountain may have to hold off on some initiatives until there is an approved plan in place.

The next meeting will take place on May 7 at 9:00am at 425 Cherry Street.