Hempstead development breaks ground

A development of affordable housing lofts in Hempstead Village will take a step closer to reality Friday at a ceremonial groundbreaking.

The Nassau County Housing Development Finance Corp. and La Cité Development will host the groundbreaking at 10 a.m. for a 29-unit residential project known as Village Lofts at 479 Front St. La Cité, the development partner of Nassau’s Housing Development Finance Corp., will build the project.

Village officials said the village has suffered from a shortage of rental options. Only 17 percent of the housing stock on Long Island is rentals, compared to 30 to 40 percent of New York City’s five boroughs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Village Lofts was supported by Hempstead Village Mayor Wayne J. Hall, who said workforce housing is of vital importance on Long Island. The village’s planning and zoning board approved the project.

“Improving the overall quality of life in the Village of Hempstead is not only critical to economic growth, it also helps create the kind of community that we want for our residents,” Hall said in a statement. “This development will impact our residents positively, providing affordable leasing opportunities for them.”