Town Board Candidates Speak: Affordable Housing

All four agree that affordable housing is important — but their positions and plans regarding the issue are almost as diverse as Huntington itself.

At a Meet the Candidates forum Thursday at the South Huntington Public Library, the challengers offered new ideas in one-minute respones to the question of affordable housing, while the incumbents tended to fall back on initiatives they have supported while in office.

"It's very important that we have affordable housing in the Town of Huntington and opportunities for all," said Town Board member Susan Berland.

Berland said she began her call for more one-bedroom apartments as far back as 12 years ago — before being elected to office. She said she has lent support to a project to construct 115 one-bedroom units in Huntington which has been tied in federal court by a group which opposes the plan.

Also a supporter of the Avalon Bay project, which she calls a "market rate complex," Berland said it's not necessarily affordable housing. "There is a small component of affordability."

Berland, a Democrat, said her initiative to draft legislation to allow for apartments over stores has made a difference. As a result, "we have apartments over stores where it's appropriate."

The longtime Town Board member said she will continue to fight for affordable housing in the town if elected.

"We need to keep our kids here and make sure families can survive here," said Berland.

Like most votes on Town Board agenda items, Town Board member and fellow Democrat Glenda Jackson said she agreed with Berland on affordable housing.

"We don't have enough workforce housing," said Jackson. "We don't have enough affordable housing." She said understands the need for affordable housing because she lived in it.

"Had I not, I would not probably be able to own a home right now," said Jackson.

Jackson said it's important that the town continue initiatives to make sure developers set aside 20 percent of new developments for affordable units. She said downpayment assistance programs through the Community Development Agency should continue as well as "Take Back The Block" programs.

"It's not going to solve all of the problems for affordable housing but it is a help," said Jackson.

Republican candidate Gene Morrow said the town needs to ensure there is a diverse stock of housing.

"I don't think we can do everything, but I would never take the position that we should do nothing," said Morrow, the mayor of Huntington Bay since 1994.

Morrow said each project needs to be looked at in terms of it's impact on it's neighborhood and whether or not it really is truly delivering affordable housing. He suggested the town look to more aggressive relationships with some of the banks in terms of available financing.

"I think we need to get back into a mortgage market where there is an availability of good programs for young families who can buy homes in Huntington," said Morrow.

Republican Eugene Cook said he sees the affordable housing dillema as an opportunity for change.

"I consider myself to be a bit of an expert on this so I asked a friend of mine to pull out all of the listings under $250,000 in Huntington, said Cook. "There's a whole bunch of them there, there's over 60 in my hand right here."

Cook said the lowest price house in Huntington is currently $85,000. "The problem with that is that if you mortgage the whole thing, it would be $405 per month, your taxes on it $329 a month."

He said the town is killing residents with taxes and needs to spend wisely. he said lower the taxes could make make everything more affordable.

"I see this as an opportunity," Cook said. "If I get elected to the Town Board I will have my doors open to help assist people in what they need to do to buy a house. For $735 a month you can buy a two bedroom, one bath house on a nice piece of property."

"It's a great way to start and I'll work on that," he said.

Coming tomorrow: Town Board candidate stances regarding the Jack Abrams School.