Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the completion of a $40.4 million affordable housing development in the Suffolk County hamlet of Wyandanch. Known as 11 Park Drive Apartments, the newly-constructed building features 94 apartments for seniors and is the fourth phase of development at Wyandanch Village, a 40-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Wyandanch Long Island Railroad station and now home to 395 apartments.
"Increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing is a priority across New York, particularly in communities on Long Island," Governor Hochul said. "We remain focused on creating more housing opportunities like Wyandanch Village that help ensure our senior population is able to remain in the communities they call home while enjoying improved access to transit and the services needed to live independently."
The completion of 11 Park Drive Apartments complements Governor Hochul's plan to make housing across New York State more affordable, equitable, and stable. In the FY 2023 State Budget, the Governor introduced and successfully secured a new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan that will increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.
11 Park Drive Apartments consists of a single five-story building with 94 apartments reserved for seniors aged 62 and older. All apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 70 percent of the Area Median Income.
The building is designed to accommodate people with mobility issues and those who have trouble with steps or who rely on wheelchairs or walkers. Seven apartments are fully adapted to accommodate tenants with physical disabilities and three additional apartments will be fully adapted for residents who are visually or hearing impaired.
Amenities include a laundry facility, multi-purpose community room, computer room, fitness room, resident social services office, and green space.
The project's development team is a joint venture between the Albanese Development Corporation and Selfhelp Realty Group.
Selfhelp will operate their Active Services for Aging model within the building, which offers social services intake and assessments, assistance with benefits and entitlements, mental and physical wellness programs, and social events. The program also provides residents with volunteer opportunities and referrals to community-based resources like home-delivered meals, home care, mental health services and transportation.
11 Park Drive Apartments is the fourth residential building to be completed at Wyandanch Village. The 40-acre parcel was acquired by the town of Babylon for residential redevelopment with support from Empire State Development, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, the Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Wyandanch Village is part of a larger revitalization effort called Wyandanch Rising, a comprehensive transit-oriented downtown revitalization plan, and was named a priority project of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council.
The Albanese Development Corporation was selected by the town as the Master Developer for the residential buildings. In addition to 11 Park Drive Apartments, two mixed-use, mixed-income buildings with 177 apartments were completed in 2015 and a third building with 124 mixed-income apartments opened in late 2019. All four projects received financing from New York State Homes and Community Renewal.
State financing for 11 Park Drive Apartments included $7.9 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Tax Credits that generated $15 million in equity and $14.9 million in subsidy from HCR.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "Wyandanch Village now offers nearly 400 apartments for a range of household incomes in a convenient, transit-oriented location. This type of planned development will serve as a model across New York State for how to build smart, sustainable, and mixed-use communities. 11 Park Drive Apartments adds 94 affordable homes for seniors so that residents can safely age in place in a thriving and active neighborhood with access to on-site services from Selfhelp. We thank our local partners and the Albanese Development Corporation for making Wyandanch Village a reality."
Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone said, "Making sure our seniors have a safe place to call home right here in Suffolk County remains a top priority and the completion of this affordable housing development does just that. I would like to thank New York State for its continued partnership and ensuring those in need are able to keep a roof over their heads."
Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said, "This new development is an exciting part of Wyandanch Rising. Providing housing for our seniors that allows them to maintain vital independence is an unmet need in the region. On behalf of the entire Town Board, we thank our partners at Selfhelp and all of the state agencies involved in making this development a reality."
President of Albanese Organization Christopher Albanese said, "We are proud of our latest achievement in Wyandanch Village with the completion and lease up of 11 Park Drive, a 100% affordable rental building built for our most vulnerable, local seniors. This undertaking would not have been possible without all our partners including Selfhelp Community Services, New York State Homes and Community Renewal, Suffolk County, the Town of Babylon and the Town of Babylon's Industrial Development Authority, as well as our low-income housing tax credit syndicator, Hudson Housing Capital, and our lender, JPMorgan Chase Bank. 11 Park Drive marks the addition of this fifth building, which continues to both contribute to and build upon the public-private collaboration known as 'Wyandanch Rising', which is an effort to bring new, safe, and affordable housing to the Wyandanch community, as well as new opportunities for economic growth."
Executive Director of Selfhelp Realty Group | The Melamid Institute of Affordable Housing Evelyn Wolff said, "Selfhelp is proud to be part of the team bringing affordable housing with services to older adults in Wyandanch and surrounding neighborhoods. This collaboration with the Albanese Organization will benefit many older New Yorkers in need of an affordable and beautiful new home in their community. We are excited to bring SHASAM, Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model, to 11 Park Drive and provide on-site services to support the health and wellness of low- and moderate-income older residents."