New York State Homes and Community Renewal Announces Groundbreaking For 48 Affordable Homes in Bethpage
$18.9 Million Oyster Bay Gardens Will Provide 36 homes for seniors and 12 for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
October 2, 2018 -- New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas today announced the groundbreaking for the $18.9 million Oyster Bay Gardens in Bethpage, an affordable housing development with 36 homes for low and moderate income seniors, and 12 for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Oyster Bay Gardens will provide 48 households with opportunity to get the affordable housing they need to take part in our growing economy and live independently in the community they love. Thanks to the State’s $20 billion, five-year housing plan, we are investing in projects like this across New York and right here in Bethpage, where they play an important role in strengthening the Long Island economy.
Oyster Bay Gardens is being developed by Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc., a leading Long Island-based not-for-profit agency serving the needs of more than 3,000 children and adults with autism, learning and developmental disabilities and provides support for their families. The development on ACLD’s South Oyster Bay Road campus will be a three-story building housing a total of 48 affordable apartments.
Rent for 36 apartments will be affordable to residents aged 62 and older with 18 set aside for households whose income is at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income and the other 18 for those with incomes at or below 50 percent of AMI. Twelve apartments will be open to people aged 21 and over for people with developmental disabilities who earn up to 50 percent of AMI. Three of those 12 will be for adults with disabilities over age 62. Rental assistance for the 12 units will be provided by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.
Supportive services will be provided through ACLD’s supportive apartments program for both the senior and supportive housing residents. These services will be based on each resident’s needs while promoting independence. They include apartment maintenance, financial planning, grocery shopping, meal preparation, laundry, medical appointments as well as medication oversight and service coordination. The development is near local bus lines, the Long Island Railroad, retail shops, educational and health care facilities and government offices.
Founded in 1957, ACLD operates 80 program sites including community residences and apartment programs across Nassau and Suffolk. Services include early childhood services, day habilitation, residential alternatives, vocational training and job placement, recreation programs, family support and occupational, speech and physical therapies.
The total development cost of Oyster Bay Gardens is $18.9 million. New York State’s investment includes $9.5 million through HCR’s Housing Finance Agency’s tax-exempt bonds, its New Construction Program loan of $5 million, $2.2 million through its Supportive Housing Opportunity Program, an allocation of federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and $2.25 million in capital construction loans provided by OPWDD which also will provide rental subsidy assistance for the 12 supportive units.
The development is part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s unprecedented $20 billion, five-year plan to create or preserve more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 with supportive services. Since 2011, HCR has provided $266 million in resources to build or preserve more than 2,200 affordable homes on Long Island.
Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Acting Commissioner Kerry A. Delaney said, “We are excited to be joining with our state, provider and community partners in this endeavor to open up doors to community living that once were closed. Projects like Oyster Bay Gardens empower people with developmental disabilities to be participating members in their communities, giving them more options to live an integrated lifestyle of their choosing while receiving appropriate and timely services tailored to their individual needs.”
Adults and Children with Learning Disabilities Executive Director Robert C. Goldsmith said, “At ACLD we are dedicated to improving the lives of the people we support and providing them with opportunities to live exceptional and fulfilling lives. We have made it our mission and priority to lead the effort on Long Island to secure resources and support to build safe and supportive housing environments for those with special needs as well as those who face affordable housing challenges.”
Senator Kemp Hannon said, “Oyster Bay Gardens will bring much needed affordable and supportive housing to our community. ACLD’s long standing commitment to serving individuals with disabilities is commendable. I congratulate them on their groundbreaking and making this project a reality.”
Assemblyman Michael Montesano said, “This is a great day and a phenomenal project. There is a need for both supportive and affordable senior housing which this development helps address. Future residents will be able to lead independent lives while being part of the larger community. No one entity could have done this alone and it is great to see people come together from various levels of government and organizations on behalf of our neighbors who will live here.”
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said, “Thank you Governor Cuomo for spearheading this housing initiative, which will create much-needed housing for our senior citizens and adults with developmental disabilities. Nassau County is proud to partner with the IDA, our colleagues in government and our community partners on this housing facility.”
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said, “ACLD provides so many wonderful opportunities for children and adults with autism, learning and developmental disabilities to pursue happy lives while achieving independence and fostering friendship that last a lifetime. Oyster Bay Gardens in Bethpage will provide a perfect residence for senior citizens and adults with developmental disabilities while furthering the mission of ACLD to enhance the lives of our loved ones. The success of this project proves the good that can come when all levels of government work together for the common purpose of bettering our community.”