Hempstead IDA Holds Public Hearing On 200-Unit Freeport Apartment Complex

FREEPORT, NY — The Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency is holding a public hearing tomorrow that will let residents chime in on a planned 200-unit apartment development in Freeport.

The developers behind the apartment — The Gardens at Buffalo, LLC, headquartered in Lawrence — are seeking assistance from the IDA to buy a 2.535-acre piece of property, renovate a building on the property, demolish a second building on the property and build two more.

The property is located at 80-84 Albany Avenue and 17-33 Buffalo Avenue in the Village of Freeport and the Town of Hempstead, IDA documents show.

Right now, the Albany Avenue-Buffalo Avenue property has an office building and a three-story apartment building on it. Per IDA documents, the developers want to add a fourth story to the existing apartments and build two more five-story buildings, connected to the existing one. Once completed, the two-and-a-half-acre property would be home to 200 rental apartments — 10 studios, 100 one-beds, 70 two-beds and 20 three-beds — with a total of 132 parking spots.

As for what the developers are asking for, IDA documents say they have requested that the IDA “Authorize the refinancing of certain indebtedness” from a mortgage currently on the property, grant a sales tax exemption of no more than $1,293,750, grant a mortgage recording tax exemption of no more than $328,399, and sign off on an updated payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement on the property.

At the July 21 IDA meeting, a representative for the developers asked the IDA for the PILOT amendment. The current PILOT setup is in its second year, but the developers’ representative said there have been delays in construction and design work at the property.

“Because of the delays in construction, we will not be able to have this building completed and let as we originally expected,” the developers’ representative told the IDA. “That additional relief will provide us with the ability to have this project completed as scheduled, and provide the community with the amenity that was promised.”

That construction, per the IDA meeting, is expected to be completed in the back half of 2028.

The hearing on this plan will take place Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 10 a.m., at 46 N. Ocean Ave. in Freeport. Per IDA documents, the development agency is expected to vote on the application at its Aug. 18 meeting.