County Breaks Ground on Affordable Homes in Inwood

Winners of a county home lottery and Nassau County officials broke ground Monday on four new affordable houses on Harris Avenue and Redwood Avenue in Inwood.

“It is extremely important that we increase affordable housing opportunities available to our residents,” County Executive Mangano said. “These homes provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to those who need it the most, while also creating construction jobs, which are the backbone of our economy.”

A lottery was held in April 2010 for 44 applicants, according to the county. Lottery winners include Charlene Charlot, Stephanie Hardy, Tamika Archer and Vivolyn Gayle. These four first-time homebuyers qualified to purchase and have signed contracts for the three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath homes. James Vilardi of Roosevelt Development Corporation will build the homes and will be sold after subsidy for $157,563, the county said.

 “Making affordable housing available across Nassau County is fundamental to our long-term economic prosperity,” Legislator Howard Kopel said. “Every generation of hard-working families and seniors deserves what so many of our parents and grandparents struggled to achieve, and what all parents want for their children: the security that only good homes in safe and stable neighborhoods can provide.”

The homes were made affordable through grants from Nassau County and the Federal HOME Program as well as funds from the New York Homes and Community Renewal through the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation.

“We applaud County Executive Mangano for his commitment to affordable housing and for providing the grants through the HOME Program to help these homeowners achieve the American dream of homeownership,” said Peter Elkowitz, president and CEO of Long Island Housing Partnership, which aims to provide increased housing opportunities.