Affordable Housing Lottery Takes Place In Hamptons

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town continues to take strides toward the creation of much-needed affordable rentals.

On Monday, a ranking lottery for 65 new affordable housing rentals took place in the town board room at Southampton Town Hall, officials said.

Applications for 28 apartments at Sandy Hollow Cove in Southampton and the 37 apartments at Speonk Commons had to be postmarked by July 22, 2019. Applicants did not have to be present at the lottery, and 268 applications were received, officials added.

Arco Multifamily Management Service conducted the lottery under the auspices and eligibility guidelines of the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal. Applicants need to be income qualified — as shown in the chart below — and complete a formal application and review process, the town said.

The dearth of affordable housing on the East End has long been identified as one of the most dire issues facing residents, lawmakers and businesses alike.

But in April, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said much-needed help— and hope — are on the horizon.

Recently, New York State Homes and Community Renewal and Bellone toured the East End and provided an update on two affordable housing developments, including Speonk Commons, to "showcase the progress on transit-oriented development and downtown revitalization on the East End," a release said.

"Our downtowns are the heart of Suffolk County and we continue working to connect them with our mass transit systems, along with our major research and educational institutions," said Bellone. "By investing in affordable housing projects such as Speonk Commons ... we are ensuring more of our hardworking residents will have access to a home in one of these vibrant, robust downtowns."

Speonk Commons will consist of six two-story buildings with 38 affordable apartments, 4,357 square feet of commercial space and 3,022 square feet of community space.

According to Southampton Town's website, all affordable housing programs qualify recipients based on their income. "Since different parts of the country have varying living costs and income levels, the U.S. department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, determines an Area Median Income, or AMI, for each housing market throughout the country. For example, the area median income in Nassau/Suffolk area for a family of four in 2017 is $110,800 while the median income in Greenville, North Carolina is $57,000. HUD takes into account the high cost of living on Long Island. In the Town of Southampton, because of the high cost of living and high property values, even a family making over $100,000 finds it impossible to afford a market rate home. To qualify for assistance, family size is taken into account because of higher costs of providing for a larger family," the town site said.

At a past hearing, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman asked about rents. Georgica Green Ventures, LLC President and Founder David Gallo said studios would range from $930 to $1434; one-bedrooms from $1,000 to $1,500, and two bedrooms from $1,195 to $1,1750.
The income range would run from $37,000 to $86,000, with $86,000 the income for a family of four, restricted to 90 percent of the area median income.

The goal, Gallo said, is to provide housing for the area's teachers, nurses, firefighters, Town Hall and hospital employees, and other young professionals who cannot afford to live in Southampton Town. All would be carefully vetted, with six months of banking information, pay stubs, personal references and other criteria required, Gallo said.

The residential mix would be similar to the Sandy Hollow project in Tuckahoe, a project also spearheaded by Georgica Green, Gallo said.