East Northport affordable housing complex a dream come true for many
Matinecock Court, an East Northport affordable housing development, has been 47 years in the making. Credit: Newsday/Randi F. Marshall
The large box contained 996 long, thin strips of white paper, each a ticket to the future. On each was typed a name and hometown. The odds were 7-1. Only 146 would be winners. But oh what a prize awaited those who won — a truly affordable home.
As slips were chosen and names were called, cheers would go up, as one by one, prospective residents attending the lottery at a library in Huntington Station realized they were closer to their dream.
The day's anticipation and excitement had built for 47 years. That's how long it took for Matinecock Court in East Northport to become a reality.
"This is more than just housing. This is justice. This is progress. This is what happens when we fight for what's right and we do so together," Pilar Moya-Mancera, executive director of the nonprofit Housing Help, Inc. told the crowd, noting it took decades of "advocacy, resilience and unwavering determination."
The winners will soon reside in 17 two-story buildings, containing 146 units, at the northern corner of Elwood and Pulaski roads adjacent to the Long Island Rail Road tracks. The apartments are nearly completed, awaiting only flooring and appliances. Across nearly 15 acres, trees have been planted, lampposts and mailboxes are in place, sprinklers are watering new grass and plants. The remaining to-do list includes paving parking lots and finishing basketball courts and playgrounds.
After years of opposition and even a fight up to the Supreme Court, which upheld rulings that Huntington Town violated the Fair Housing Act in restricting such housing to "urban renewal" areas, Matinecock Court is really almost there.
And boy do we need it.
The nearly 1,000 applicants, including many residents of East Northport, Commack, Huntington, Deer Park, Brentwood and other local communities, along with some from other states, illustrate the intensity of that need.
Matinecock features 70 one-, two-, or three-bedroom homes likely available for move in next month, and another 76 units ready by year's end. It's a limited equity cooperative, where residents earning as little as $38,000 pay a monthly fee as low as $1,206. They're not buying the homes, but the setup allows them to build some equity without closing costs or down payments. Importantly, Housing Help will offer services on-site, to aid residents in building credit and savings, so when they're ready to move on from Matinecock, they can become homeowners.
Matinecock's moment comes at a critical time for housing on the Island. Both Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth and Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim, who have supported measured development proposals, faced contentious primaries from challengers opposing such efforts. Both incumbents won.
Perhaps that's a signal Long Island is ready to embrace affordable housing. Or, the sadly more likely scenario is that it's just a blip in a long timeline full of not-in-my-backyard pushback.
Matinecock developer Peter Florey has been steadfast in pushing it to completion. He plans to invite those who've criticized Matinecock to view the finished product. Perhaps that could provide a reality check against past fearmongering.
"Please, come and see what affordable housing looks like," Florey said of his message to one-time opponents.
Moya-Mancera is already thinking about "the next project," noting Matinecock reminds her of the need to listen to the community and gain support early.
"I hope for the sake of our children, and of our young professionals, that the next development doesn't take 45 years," Moya-Mancera said. "Affordable housing and multi-family development shouldn't be once in a lifetime."
And it can't stop at a corner in East Northport.
Columnist Randi F. Marshall's opinions are her own.
Randi Marshall is a member of the Newsday editorial board.
