Town of Hempstead Breaks Ground

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby broke ground in Roosevelt on the first of eleven affordable homes to be built in the latest phase of the Town's Affordable Homes Program. Joining Murray and Goosby were Town Clerk Mark Bonilla and Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin. In addition, officials celebrated Hempstead's victory in receiving a $240,000 grant from the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC) to help pay for the construction.

"This is a victory for Roosevelt," Murray said. "We are working hard to revitalize Roosevelt, and these homes coupled with our other community revitalization efforts are making the future of this community brighter."

"Even with the dip in home prices recently, for many first-time homebuyers the cost of purchasing a Long Island home is just too steep," said Goosby. "Hempstead Town is changing that and helping young people to stay here."

Over its twenty years of service, Hempstead's Affordable Housing Program has designed, contracted, and built well over 200 affordable homes for residents town-wide. Hempstead is the only municipality on Long Island to receive funds this year as part of a state plan to assist in the building and renovation of 1,149 affordable housing units across the state. The Town uses state and federal funds when granted to help offset the cost.

Supervisor Murray explained that although the homes are affordably priced at $152,000, they are built to a very high standard and feature abundant amenities. The homes will be 1,600-square foot, two-story colonials replete with eat-in kitchens and three bedrooms and will be made available to families that earn no more than $87,002 for a family of four. Eligible applicants will be chosen via a lottery with preferences given to first-time homebuyers of the Roosevelt school district.

The affordable homes are only the latest in a litany of Town-led efforts to revitalize the Roosevelt community. Bolstering an image of business renaissance and community pride, "Welcome to Roosevelt" banners now adorn light poles on Nassau Road and at the Western Beef store's parking lot. Storefronts within that shopping center boast new facades including attractive stucco, business signs, and lighting. Complementing the improvements, along Nassau Road are a re-paved municipal parking lot and a streetscape project that includes Victorian lighting, brick paved walkways and plantings. Down the road, a newly completed office building shepherded by Hempstead officials awaits occupants. Approaching completion, the town is working to add a village green and new building facades on a group of downtown storefronts.

"It is likely that the homes could realize a full market sales price well in excess of $300,000 if they were sold on the open market," concluded Murray. "But, because of Senator Fuschillo's leadership in Albany, which helped the Town secure these funds for the people of Roosevelt, more families will be able to stake a claim on the American dream of home ownership."