Affordable-housing plan in Cutchogue gains traction despite town supervisor's concerns

A proposed affordable-housing project in the hamlet of Cutchogue appears to be gaining traction despite the Southold Town supervisor’s concerns that residents may not get first priority to live there.

Jericho-based developer Georgica Green Ventures LLC and Greenport-based The Housing Initiatives LLC, an affordable-housing development company, are proposing Cutchogue Woods, a 24-unit rental housing project on Middle Road. The proposed development would need rezoning.

The units, with 48 parking spaces, would consist of 600- to 725-square-foot one-bedroom units, 750- to 950-square-foot two-bedroom units and 900- to 1,150-square-foot three-bedroom townhomes, according to the proposal submitted by Georgica Green Ventures. The developer is anticipating the affordability tiers of renters — who would be chosen by a lottery — to be between 60% and 100% of area median income to "best serve the local population."

"I think that just like the South Fork, there’s a real demand and I think we can do something here that is quite beautiful and something that the town can be proud of," David Gallo, president of Georgica Green Ventures, told Newsday on Thursday.

Most of the town board members favored moving forward with the proposal at the work session last week.

"I think we’re leaving an opportunity on the table if we wipe out exploring any projects like this, because ultimately, you’re advocating for self-funded projects only," said Town Councilman Greg Doroski, adding there was a "real need in this community" for affordable housing.

However, Supervisor Scott Russell told Newsday that because the development will likely be federally or state-funded in part, the guidelines for receiving the funds would not allow prioritizing Southold residents. Financing is anticipated through the New York State Homes and Community Renewal low-income housing tax credit program, Georgica Green's report states.

"Why would we support the construction of affordable housing in Southold when ultimately there’s no guarantee that residents aren’t going to get much of that housing?" Russell said Thursday.

Russell said he prefers future affordable-housing developments be funded privately so projects would not be bound to such guidelines.

Gallo said his company has built two similar East End affordable-housing developments that had a "significant amount" of its inhabitants living in the community. The 28-unit Sandy Hollow Cove in Southampton had 74% of its occupants living in town, and the 37-unit Gansett Meadow in East Hampton had 86% of its inhabitants living locally.

Developers are scheduled to return before the town board later this month with more project details.