Avalon Bay Supporters Stage Rally

A pro-Avalon Bay rally took place at Town Hall Monday night, when a group gathered to show support for the 490-unit housing project proposed for construction on a 26.2-acre parcel on the north side of East Fifth Street in Huntington Station.

The rally was in part to counter what those who support Avalon Bay  call "a small group of Huntington residents and members of the tea party movement." The pro-Avalon Bay group said that at least one opposing group is "spreading false information about the Avalon Bay project."

"The Avalon Bay Transit-Oriented Development project is a smart growth plan with a mix of affordable housing for rent and homeownership a quarter mile from the train station," read the rally call to action. "Huntington residents will be rallying to say YIMBY to Avalon.  Residents are calling on the Town Board to approve the project in their backyards."

In order for the project to move forward the property, located on a 26-acre parcel on the north side of East Fifth Street in Huntington Station adjacent to the New York State Armory, needs to be rezoned as part of a newly-created district called the Huntington Station Transit-Oriented District.

Opponents to the project say, as the largest down- zoning in the entire history of the town of Huntington, it would set a horrible precedent.

The land is currently zoned for 109 single-family homes.

"This will be the densest housing project in the entire town, housing more than 18 units per acre," reads a letter to the editor of Huntington Patch from opponents.

"This development will require nine 46-foot high buildings just off Park Avenue. That would make them as tall as the north parking garage at the Huntington train station. It will also require the largest down- zone in the entire history of the town of Huntington."

 As an example, Avalon Melville is 14 units per acre; Huntington Country Farms across the street is seven, reads the letter.  

Supporters, some of whom call themselves YIMBYs, which stands for 'yes, in my back yard,' say that affordable housing is sorely needed in the town.

"I am here to say, 'Yes, in my backyard,'" "We want to keep an affordable mix of housing for the families in town," said Reverend Paul Ratzlaff of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Huntington said at the public hearing for the zone change in March. And, as a minister of a congregation, I am very aware of our young adults who chose to live at home and then were forced to move elsewhere to find affordable housing. It's a shame that doesn't exist here.  I'm also very aware of retiring couples who are pioneers in our congregation who are faced with similar situations. They are forced to move out and away from the community of friends and family they care for."

The Long Island Progressive Coalition, Long Island Association, Huntington Housing Coalition, and Habitat for Humanity have called a rally and press conference for this evening at 5 p.m. at Town Hall