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Politics & Government

Village Ceding Parcels to Town Housing Authority

Board finds nonprofit will have easier time developing affordable housing properties.

Finding that developing and financing affordable housing can be more easily achieved by a nonprofit, the Southampton Village Board is seeking to transfer three properties to the Southampton Town Housing Authority.

Suffolk County seized the undeveloped properties in 2001 for delinquent taxes then deeded the approximately 1.7 acres to Southampton Village for affordable housing. Now the county must sign off on the transfer to the housing authority, which will be charged with developing three houses and setting eligibility parameters for tenants or home buyers.

Southampton Town Housing Authority Executive Director Richard Blowes told the village board that putting the parcels under nonprofit control makes them eligible for grants and adds a level of protection for the village.

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The village board unanimously approved the transfer at a public meeting Thursday to demonstrate to the county that it is making moves to develop the parcels. If the village cannot show that an affordable housing plan is in the works, the county could potentially revoke the properties and then auction them off.

In addition to needing the county’s OK, the transfer is subject to a written agreement between the village and the housing authority, the terms of which have yet to be hammered out.

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Blowes said the housing authority is happy to accommodate any terms the village wants to seek in the transfer agreement. “We don’t try to impose anything on anyone that is not in keeping with the community and what the wishes of the community are,” he said.

One major aim of the village board is making the affordable housing available to families earning up to 120 percent of the median income for Long Island. The county typically restricts the income level to 80 percent, but offers waivers to increase the cap.

Trustee said he wants assurances that, under the terms of the transfer, the “community” is defined as Southampton Village and not Southampton Town. To that end, he wants village residents and volunteers in the village’s fire department and ambulance corps to be given preference in the selection process.

Mayor Mark Epley said he also wants preference given for veterans, police officers, teachers and nurses.

Trustee was concerned that seeking restrictions on who would be eligible for the housing could lead to litigation if the village does not strictly abide by the law. Additionally, she warned that the village needs to move fast to ensure the property is not forfeited back to Suffolk County and sold to a developer who will build on the land for profit.

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