Gansett Meadow Breaks Ground
Pictured Above: At Tuesday’s groundbreaking. | photo courtesy New York State Governor’s Office
With a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday, construction has begun on a $24 million workforce housing development in Amagansett.
The development, Gansett Meadow, is on Montauk Highway adjacent to the Amagansett IGA along the Suffolk County Transit’s 10C bus route, and will provide 37 mixed-income rental homes for families.
New York State has taken the lead in this $24 million project, with New York State Homes and Community Renewal providing Federal and State Low Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate about $12.4 million in equity and $5.6 million in subsidy.
“The Gansett Meadow Apartments will provide affordable housing to families in East Hampton and connect them with opportunities that help move them on the path toward economic independence,” said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in a press release Tuesday. “By continuing to make these critical investments in our communities, we are creating a stronger New York for all.”
“This development will provide affordable, quality rental home options for individuals and families in Suffolk County,” agreed Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “This project is part of our overall efforts to increase housing options for residents in our communities across the state. It also builds on our efforts to enhance quality of live and continue economic develop efforts on Long Island.”
Gansett Meadow, located at 531 Montauk Highway, is being constructed by Georgica Green Ventures, LLC, on a vacant, 4.7-acre site owned by the East Hampton Housing Authority. It was designed to be placed in a transit-oriented neighborhood, within a mile of the Long Island Railroad’s East Hampton station, on the bus route and near the grocery store, places of worship, schools, libraries, public recreation facilities and an urgent care center.
The development complex will consist of seven, two-story buildings offering a mix of one- to four-bedroom apartments. Three apartments are handicapped accessible and adaptable for persons with a hearing or vision impairment. The apartments will be affordable to households at a range of income levels.
The residential buildings will be clustered around a central green space with a playground, patio and parking along the perimeter. There will be a separate community building with laundry facilities, a kitchenette, computers and meeting space. A sewage treatment plant to handle the development’s waste water will be built on site.
Georgica Green Ventures, LLC is building the complex in cooperation with the East Hampton Housing Authority. In addition to financing from New York State, the project is being built with a $3.9 million permanent loan from the Community Preservation Corporation and $1.1 million from Suffolk County.
“The demand for affordable housing has never been greater and that is why Suffolk Count is making the necessary investments to expand our stock on the East End. As the first project of its kind in the Town of East Hampton, this project will make it possible for residents to stay on Long Island,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.
“The availability of affordable housing is in short supply on the East End,” said South Fork State Assemblyman Fred Thiele. “Local employers have difficulty hiring and retaining employees because of housing costs and availability, and local volunteer emergency services are experiencing difficulty in recruitment and retention. Gansett Meadow is a step towards reversing this trend, providing our dedicated workforce with the housing they need and deserve.”
“The construction of these 37 affordable rental units will augment the town’s efforts, which include 12 recently completed affordable condominium units and the purchase of a site that could accommodate an additional 30 units,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc. “These affordable housing opportunities will allow local working individuals and families to remain in East Hampton and continue to contribute to our community. Congratulations to the East Hampton Housing Authority and Georgica Green Ventures, and many thanks to the state, county, and the Community Preservation Corporation for supporting this project.”
The state’s $20 billion, five-year housing plan makes housing accessible and combats homelessness by building or preserving more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 with supportive services, according to the governor’s office. The plan includes multi- and single-family housing and community development. Since 2011, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested $181 million in Suffolk County that has preserved or created housing for nearly 5,200 people.
