This is the wrong project, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THIS!!!
Since 1979, Housing Help, Inc. (HHI) www.housinghelp.net an organization from Greenlawn, NY has been trying to build “affordable housing” on the corner of Elwood and Pulaski Roads in East Northport. After years of litigation, HHI won a settlement, and this project is becoming closer to a reality. The proposed housing project will consist of 155 units, half of which will be rentals. While we recognize that home ownership is a fundamental part of the American Dream and everyone has a right to pursue that dream we, as the residents of Northport and East Northport, feel that this project infringes on OUR American Dream. As residents, there are many issues we are concerned about, and our voices need to be heard by our Elected Officials. We have a right to have a say in the development of our community. This project is being pushed through without consideration for changes in our community, our economy and our lives.
1. Affordable Housing may be already here: The housing market on Long Island is flooded with thousands of already available homes, co-op’s, condo’s and rentals. Mortgage rates are at historic lows making payments, when qualified, more affordable than ever. Some speculate that Suffolk County home prices have still not hit bottom and may fall an additional 12%, and in addition, foreclosures and short sales persist.
2. Air Pollution: There have been studies done that there are toxins in the soil. Construction and removal of the surface soil may release toxins such as arsenic into the air, into our neighborhoods, and into our surrounding schools.
3. Water Pollution: They intend to place a SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT on the site. Byproducts and Hazardous Materials will exist. This will be built in proximity of our SOLE SOURCE AQUIFER, and the COUNTY WELL FIELD that provides our PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY as well as TWO SCHOOLS, the LIRR and a LIPA substation.
4. School Impact: The Northport/East Northport School District, in the midst of their own economic crisis, which has been compounded by a lack of government funding, is in the process of finalizing a budget that may include the laying off of Teachers and Staff, consolidation or elimination of positions, reducing of programs and potentially larger class sizes. In a sad irony, HHI will be using, at least in part, government funding to help build this project. No one can predict the number of children that will suddenly be wedged into our classrooms. HHI claims that a study done 16 years ago with 20 year old census data is adequate. In addition: The SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT and SOIL REMEDIATION and related hazards are in close proximity to TWO SCHOOLS”
5. Safety: No one disputes traffic will be adversely and dramatically affected, so imagine our children and parents having to fight the intersections and train track crossings – which leads us to:
6. Taking From our Kids: They intend to use eminent domain via the County to grab land from Pulaski Rd. Elementary School to improve Elwood Road access to THEIR project, while destroying ball fields and play areas, and diminishing safety barriers from the roadway to the school property.
7. No experience: HHI has not developed, built or managed a property of this magnitude. It is hard to imagine that they have the skills to manage, maintain and respond to the needs of such a large project.
8. Ask a Question, Get a History Lesson: Feel free to check their documents. Many of HHI’s cited studies that they hold so dear and use to stay “on message” are often 10 to 20 years old. Do you base your family’s decisions today on plans you made in 1994? HHI does. This is a very different world, population, economy, and town as compared to 20 years ago.
We do not need “affordable housing” in East Northport and we surely do not need a rental development. Our schools and roads are crowded enough without adding to them. If people can’t afford to rent or purchase here then they can move elsewhere where they can afford to purchase or rent. We don’t have to supply people with housing in our neighborhood simply because they can’t afford to live here otherwise. No one in Muttontown or Sands Point is offering to build “affordable housing” so we can move there. We live where we can afford. Let other do likewise. This will bring down the value of our homes which have already been brought down by our terrible economy. We homeowners do not need to lose any more value on our homes than we have already lost. “Affordable Housing” brings down the property values as well as the neighborhood in general. If a group from Greenlawn wants to build “affordable housing” then let them find space in Greenlawn or Huntington or Huntington Station. STAY OUT OF EAST NORTHPORT/NORTHPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excuse me GAIL, but I live in West Hills South Huntington and we do not need addtional issues, we already deal with Huntington Station. My yearly taxes are close to 17K. We do not need "affordable housing" in my town either!!!!!!!!!!
i agree gail. we all work hard , sacrafice time with our families in order to live in this community and this project is going to take that and more away from us. what are the next steps?? people need to start flooding our councilman's office with phone calls and have them take it to the next level and earn the right to stay on as an elected official
One major concern of mine is the infux of MANY more chldren into our school district. We are having serious problems with our school budget, classroom sizes, reduction of teachers and staff, and the possibilty of programs being eliminated. Our district is going through a difficult time to say the least. The last thing we need is a large number of new students in the district. Especially rental families that will not be paying taxes (school taxes)!
plus we are one of only a few districts in the entire new york state to not have full time kindergarten
We need to find out who is sponsoring the project, at one point HHI had a list of sponsors, but it was removed from their now defunct website, whether private companies, churches, etc. and STOP using their products and services. Close bank accounts, stop going to services, etc., and if they ask why ? Tell them why.
I agree. we need to find out who is the contractors, fence companies, etc and hit them in their pockets.
Has the Town Of Huntington Supv., Town Board, Building Dept. and etc. reviewed the building requisites for a project of this size? and At what meeting?
What was their comments and were they publicized?,
Do the persons who represent HHI reside in our Community and in the location they are seeking to build in?
The survey date which I read having been taken nearly 20 years ago, to me, is not applicable today.
Thank you.
We need donations to get a large sign or two to alert people of the meeting on June 17. I cant believe that everyone I speak to thinks this wont happen becaue they have been unsucessful in building there for the last 10-15 years. People need to know. I gave my donation towards a sign actually it said test. I think we need a sign posted on Elwood and Pulaski. one each corner to read: Last chance to stop housing project June 17 Nrothport H.S 7pm
Hi Teresa – our new flyer is available HERE
Thanks for your support! StopMC.com
If hundreds show up at the town meeting it can be stopped. If not get ready for house valuse in Northport and East Northport to drop about 20% from current values.
Thanks Anthony – please spread the word!
We bought our East Northport home almost 4 years ago when the market was still high. Moved here for more space, less traffic, good schools & a better quality of life. This project will most likely bring our property value down, crowd our streets & schools & change our way of life here! Everyone in this town should be attending this meeting!!! I will certainly do my best to be there. SAVE EAST NORTHPORT!!!!!!!!!
We also bought 4 years ago for the same reasons. Our property value has decreased due to the current economy. This project will only cause our property value to continue to fall and put us under water. We will not even be able to sell. Who is going to purchase a home with a housing project down the block? We would be better off walking away from the house than to continue to pay a mortgage on a home that continues to lose value. How many homes will fall into foreclosure due to this project? What Fair Housing Act? What abut our fair housing?
My husband just got back from the meeting, and the way he is explaining it, it sounds like we need to be talking to senators. That this is a new york state issue, beyond town politics. Maybe it's time to blitz schumer and gilibrand
let's take it to the next level. there are enviornmental issues that need to recognized and could make for an even more sustainable case
The schools and roads are not crowded at all Gail. I have no idea what you're talking about – the school district actually closed Northport Middle School due to the declining population of students. These claims being made make no sense. I'm not saying I'm for the housing development, but what I am saying is that people aginst it need to stop with these red tape "let's do another traffic study" type of arguments – everyone knows in their heart they are BS arguments.
Are you for real? 'the school district actually closed Northort Middle School due to the declining population of students?' Are you talking about Laurel Avenue school? Wasn't that a consolidation issue, not a declining enrollment issue? Northport Middle is very much open and next year's entering freshman class at the high school will be the largest in many years. That, coupled with the layoffs of many teachers there is causing unprecedented issues for the administration to deal with. Where do you live Mike? You are not informed. And the roads are not crowded? Do you leave your house?
I agree with the others…our concerns should be more focused on the environmental and safety issues regarding where a project of this size is being built. Over 2,000 students at the high school…500 at Pulaski….a power station, railroad crossing and now this – all within feet of each other? What will the impact of sewage treatment have on so many of our youngest residents who spend the better part of their day in this little section of our community? A sewage treatment plant that needs a variance in order to be built because it violates code?
We can't give up just because the town has!
Today's town meeting was disappointing to say the least. No town representative seemed to have ANY good answers for the people that honestly pay their salaries. How do they attend and "appear" to care when they don't even know if this project affects Harborfields or E Northport?? Questions about contaminated soil….No good answers their either!!! WHAT A DISGRACE
Yes I agree the meeting was very disappointing and unorganized. My son starts 1st grade at Pulaski in Sept. Am I to be concerned about the soil there too? When they "burn" the contaminated soiling, when will they do it during the school year when the children are playing in the school yard and they can breath those toxins? Seems to me if this is a done deal as they were stating last night, they only thing we might be able to do is stall the project at every single step of the way. When they try to get approval for cleaning it up, find out ways that just kicking up the contamination would pose a threat to the environment and go that route. It seems the town of huntington and the attorney's failed us by not trying to use other arguments to stop this project. Granted, this is the first time I have attended this meeting. My family and I have been here since 3/01. It was several years later that I vaguely heard anything about this project and now we really can't do anything? I hope not.
what are the next steps? we need to pass the word on to start flooding our councilman's office with phone calls so they take it to the next level – senate etc. Have them earn the right stay on as an elected official. the enviornmental issues alone should be enough for a court to rule agains this project! Start Calling your Councilman!
There is a bigger issue going on here.
If we were to believe the Town Reps, that this project is inevitable, that there was NOTHING we could do, then we are accepting Govt. at its worst. We need a leader, what do we get? we get elected officials who REFUSE to address the audience.
Where is their courage?
Where is their leadership?
My God! What has happened to us?
Question is now what do we do?
I guess we can do nothing.
Or we can organize.
Interested?
contact me
ashamedofmygovt@yahoo.com
Time to fight back.
Imagine….just imagine.
we need to do something. we have elected officials for a reason. if they want to keep themselves in their post then they need to stand up and fight for the masses. Tell the greenlan housing people to find land in greenlawn and build it there!
Bob count me in. You can contact me at bootsscootinboogie@aol.com
From what I heard at the meeting last night I think this is beyond our local gov't. We need our state Senators involved. If the town gets involved it could end up costing more monies in legal fees, that is why they sent a former town attorney to take the hit. If everyone in our town is as upset as what was shown last night then it might be time for us to talk to an attorney.
The lawyer who spoke last night made it very clear that the town may not do anything to oppose the project. Reading between the lines, I heard that we as a community need to put pressure on the sewage authority and other regulatory entities that can grant or deny permits.
I left early when it was clear the town had no real answers. Did anyone from Housing Help speak? I would think they would actually have the answers. It is their project. It just seemed like the town was trying to get everyone pissed off so we get in the way of this project because they can't. I feel used and still don't have any real information! Any chance we can get s forum together with these Housing Help people?
Gilly and Chuck E. Cheese Schumer, they're a joke. We need to boot them out.
What are they going to do with the units that cannot be sold ? I would not want to buy there if my neighbor is going to be some Section 8 leach making all kinds of noise at night because they are not concerned about being at work the next morning.
We need to use the same tactics they use, SUE! SUE! SUE! at the slightest inconvenience it causes us. They use the courts, we'll use them them and stall it another 30 years.
We are a passionate and powerful group. But we need clear direction and firm honorable leadership. We need to find the right individual(s) to move and direct us forward. Attorney's schooled in enviornmental, state, local & constitutional affairs. This is imperative. Are we working to these ends?
HOUSING HELP: UNITED WAY'S TOP COMMUNITY PARTNER: http://www.unitedwayli.org/oursupporters/nonprofi…
I just looked at this website. United Way has many labor unions and Corperations backing them including BAE Systems on Pulaski. There are several Labor unions as well. Perhaps we can preasure united way into dropping helping hands through these entities.
Not sure if there is any data that shows if United Way has provided or promised any funding for the units or helped with any grants with Housing Help.
I still can't get past the fact these people who want to build here think the traffic and adding kids to the school is no problem! Be realistic people!
They don't care!
I was not at the meeting at Northport High School last month but who was the attorney that claimed to be a former TOH attorney??? As far as I know Jim Matthews is still the town attorney??? does anybody know about this…..were they making false claims again….wouldn't surprise me!!!
I really hope you create a decent living Marty, you should have in order to. appreciate it for adding so much attempt in to coaching so many people.
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