There’s a new plan to transform vacant land on Long Island that is owned by the state into housing. Gov. Hochul supports the proposal. but there are some concerns from the community. NBC New York Greg Cergol. reports.
New York is eyeing a parcel of unused land off a Long Island airport as part of its first state-owned housing development.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday that a 13-acre site at Republic Airport in East Farmingdale has been earmarked for a major redevelopment that will include affordable housing, open space and "other community amenities." The exact number of housing units is not yet clear, but an estimated 20% of the development will be established for affordable housing.
"We just secured a landmark housing deal that will make New York more affordable and livable, and now we're getting to work to turn it into reality," the governor said in a statement. "Leveraging state-owned land is a significant opportunity to increase housing supply and help New Yorkers find a place to call home."
The land, which has sat vacant since Fairfield Republic ended its aviation operations in the 1990s, used to facilitate airplane manufacturing. Hochul's office said the existing structures on the property are already set for demolition. The property is currently owned by the state's Department of Transportation and is home to multiple dilapidated buildings.
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"This could create a beautiful campus of housing and mixed use opportunities. So we’re putting it out for bid today," Hochul said at a press conference at nearby Farmingdale State College. "Everything about this area is great — except the lack of housing. And that is the barrier to this region achieving its full potential."
Located off Conklin Street and borded by Long Island Rail road tracks and Route 110, the redevelopment "will transform this blighted area while providing much needed housing," Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine said.
Hochul's announcement also sought proposals from developers, which have until Aug. 7 to get their requests in to the state.
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Civic leader Tom Joseph Jr. and others have been trying to find some use for the land, but cited concerns about traffic congestion in the area, noting that the proposal needs work. He said he hopes the community's concerns are taken into account.
"It can’t be something that we just stick housing wherever there’s an open area. That just doesn’t work," said Joseph Jr. "We’re not opposed to housing but we want something that’s done smart ... I think we all need to sit down and discuss what we can do to work together."
The Suffolk County redevelopment project is the first of its kind to increase housing supply through state-owned property. The recent state budget agreement is helping fund the project.
Officials said the federal government has pledged millions to remove buildings on the site and clean it up. But it still could be three years until a new development moves forward at the site.
