Nesconset assisted-living plan gets boost
This is a developer's sketch of the Amber Court assisted-living facility proposed for Nesconset. Credit: Handout
An assisted-living project in Nesconset received a boost Wednesday when the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency gave preliminary approval for $28 million in tax-exempt bond financing.
Amber Court Assisted Living Communities wants to build a 90,000-square-foot apartment complex for 186 seniors, most of whom would be low-income. The development would occupy about 7 acres on Lake Avenue where a Knights of Columbus hall currently stands.
The project will create 50 jobs but faces opposition from neighbors concerned about building height, noise from truck deliveries and traffic. Smithtown officials have yet to approve the site plan and grant the necessary variances to zoning law.
Still, IDA chairman Jim Morgo was impressed by Amber Court's commitment to housing low-income seniors, who would pay monthly rent of $1,190. Of the 186 residents, 150 will be eligible for Medicaid, the federal and state health care program for the poor.
"This has a lot to recommend it . . . We need assisted living for low-income people," Morgo said at the IDA's monthly board meeting.
He and others noted IDA support would have no bearing on whether Smithtown OKs the $38.5-million development.
Should the IDA give final approval, it will have exhausted its tax-exempt bonding authority for the year. There is a cap on such authorizations that only can be lifted by the state.
Several years ago, the IDA backed the Bristal assisted living community in East Northport.
Amber Court, founded in 1968, has four locations in the metropolitan area, including one on Brush Hollow Road in Westbury. About 250 people work for the company, caring for 780 seniors.
The Westbury Amber Court, with 225 residents, is expected to expand this summer with a 44-unit structure to care for people with memory loss. The Nassau IDA has been asked to provide tax breaks, according to Amber Court executive Raphael Weiss.
"We don't believe you have to have subpar buildings and services just because you are offering affordable assisted living," he said.
In other business, the IDA granted another one-year extension of a sales-tax break on construction costs for the curved-glass building at the corner of Route 110 and the LIE in Melville.
The 110,000-square-foot structure, built by the Queens-based costume company Rubie's, has struggled to find tenants in the sluggish economy. Less than half of the space has been leased to an upscale restaurant and two financial services firms. Negotiations also are under way with a bank.
