The Town of Brookhaven has announced that the Hauppauge-based Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) will be building thirty-two new single-family, affordable homes in North Bellport. The homes will be available to first-time home buyers through the LIHP – Community Land Trust Program. The homes will be constructed on undeveloped land on the corner of Montauk Highway and Ecke Avenue.
The land accounts for just over seven acres, with each house slated to sit on just under one-quarter acre. The houses are expected to be 1,300 square feet with a 300 square-foot garage. Each single-family home will have an accessory apartment that will be about 600 square feet.
The move is one of many of a revitalization effort for the North Bellport community shared between elected officials and civic groups to bring new commerce home ownership to the area. The community received a $4.5 million grant from the State, presented by Governor Kathy Hochul (D) in January, which is part of the State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) program through the New York Forward (NYF) Initiative.
“The people of North Bellport have a friend, supporter, and advocate in their Town Supervisor,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches), who made it part of his campaign platform and inaugural address to work on revitalizing and investing in North Bellport. “I have made it a priority to help create a better tomorrow and better future for the communities in Brookhaven that have faced substantial issues for far too long. This new housing will complement our past and future efforts and will be by no means our last. Whether it be true transit-oriented development and revitalization in the area, improving the park system, and access to housing, we are making real differences for the people.”
The parcels were owned by the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, and private owners, according to Peter Elkowitz, President and CEO of LIHP. Elkowitz says a major component of the deal was reaching an agreement with D&F Development Group to extend sewer connections to the houses off of an apartment complex they’re slated to build on Atlantic Avenue.
“Supervisor Panico and the Town of Brookhaven should be commended for their continuous commitment to the revitalization of North Bellport,” said Elkowitz. “LIHP has partnered with the Town for decades to bring quality affordable housing to the neighborhood, resulting in the construction of sixty-eight new homes, fourteen rehabilitated homes, and another ten single-family homes in the pre-construction phase. We are all excited to work with the Town to develop thirty-two affordable homes, each with an accessory apartment dwelling unit, on Ecke Avenue – a project that has been in the planning stages for several years.”
The Town had condemned ten parcels in 2019 as a starting point for the project.
LIHP is also requesting funds from the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation (NYSAHC), among other grants. Suffolk County is also expected to chip in funds through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and is looking at funds through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
“Providing affordable homes and creating jobs is paramount as we strive to find ways for residents to live and work in the community that they wish to remain in, and not have to move out of state just because their own neighborhood has become unaffordable,” said Councilman Michael Loguercio (R-Ridge), who represents North Bellport in the Fourth Council District.
“It’s gratifying to be part of the continuing efforts to revitalize North Bellport. The New York State/Brookhaven Town and Long Island Housing Partnership public-private partnership is a most effective vehicle to collaborate with the residents of North Bellport to improve their community,” said Jim Morgo, State Co-Chair of the New York Forward North Bellport Local Planning Committee. “The tried-and-true method of stabilizing a neighborhood through well-designed safe and affordable home ownership and rental opportunities began in the 1990s and continues to this day with the Ecke Avenue development that creatively combines affordable home ownership and rental options. The revitalization will continue with the New York Forward’s economy-enhancing projects slated to begin in 2025. Back when I was President of the Housing Partnership, no one believed that North Bellport would be revitalized overnight. Fortunately, under Supervisor Panico’s administration it is clearly committed to continue making North Bellport the best community it can be.”
To qualify for the housing, applicants will have to earn no more than 80% of the area median income, which is $87,500 for an individual filer and $124,950 for a family of four. Median household income for North Bellport was $89,026 in 2018-2022, against a $122,498 median income nationwide.
Median home prices in North Bellport rose to $495,000 during the last year ending in June, a 12.5% increase from last year.
The project is expected to break ground next fall and completed by 2027.
While applications are not yet open, but interested parties can check lihp.org to check the progress of the project or search for other housing opportunities.
