Hauppauge , NY – March 1, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Despite an ongoing recession and a record number of home foreclosures across the country, County Executive Steve Levy is continuing in his efforts to provide affordable housing opportunities for Suffolk residents.
His latest measure will transfer 12 properties currently held by the county for failure to pay taxes and transfer them to the town of Brookhaven for affordable housing purposes.
These properties — 10 of which are located on Meade Avenue in Bellport, one on Hoffman Avenue in Bellport and one located on Shirley Lane in Medford — would in turn be given to Habitat for Humanity and the Long Island Housing Partnership to rehabilitate the blighted properties into homes that would be affordable to families and young professionals looking to take root in the community.
“Creating affordable homes in these areas will benefit our young people and families looking to live in these communities, and will benefit the communities themselves with revitalization,” Levy said. “A blighted, derelict property brings down surrounding home values and the overall pride of the given community. By transferring these homes to our young people and families, rather than to absentee landlords, we are providing the community with a renaissance that can positively affect every other homeowner in the area.”
The 12 lots would have originally been sold through the county’s auction process, but were deemed to be better suited for affordable housing purposes, and will be transferred to the town of Brookhaven through Suffolk’s extensive 72-h program.
The 72-h program allows the county to transfer properties it acquires throughout Suffolk to other municipalities – such as towns and villages – to be used for affordable housing purposes. Levy has used the 72-h program extensively throughout his administration to provide affordable housing to the young and working families in Suffolk County, most notably in the North Bellport and East Patchogue communities where more than 70 properties were removed from the auction block last year and are being transferred to the town for affordable housing purposes.
Under the Suffolk County Tax Act, when taxes are not paid by property owners it is the county that pays all other municipalities the monies owed and ultimately takes title to the property. The 72-h provision of New York State General Municipal Law allows the county to transfer property to another municipality for certain purposes.
“The 72-h process allows us to address the dire need for affordable housing one property at a time,” noted Levy.
Levy’s proposal was approved by legislative committee on Thursday and will now go before the entire Legislature on Tuesday, March 2.
