The Restore New York Communities Initiative granted the Town of North Hempstead $1.265 million to support the renovation of three vacant and abandoned properties in New Cassel, officials announced.
Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Councilmember Robert Troiano announced the grant on Thursday. Restore NY will bridge financial gaps caused by demolition charges, higher material and labor prices and supply chain bottlenecks.
Restore NY launched in late October. It aids the renovation of properties and seeks to promote community development through redevelopment.
“I am so proud that the Town was one of the select communities across New York State to be awarded funds through the Restore NY Communities Grant,” said DeSena. “Once completed, these brand-new homes will improve the community, help stimulate the economy and aid in revitalizing New Cassel.”
The town chose the three long-vacant properties and paid for them with a grant from the state attorney general’s office.
The Community Development Agency leads the New Cassel Workforce Housing Phase III Development. They seek to rehabilitate and sell homes to eligible first-time homebuyers chosen through a lottery.
“This grant supports New Cassel’s revitalization and will allow us to offer quality, affordable housing to the area’s residents,” said Troiano. “Over the last several years, we have seen the successful redevelopment of blighted properties along Prospect Avenue, the conversion of the Grand Street School into the Homestead Senior Apartments and the creation of the award-winning, intergenerational ‘Yes We Can’ Community Center.”
Once completed, the town will sell the homes to families earning at or below 80% of the area’s median income. They will also give the prospective homebuyers counsel and down payment help.
The income ceiling for a family of four in 2022 is $116,250. Over the last decade, the Community Development Agency has developed and sold 19 identical workforce homes.
The town and Community Development Agency are also using other grants for the project. These come from departments like the Environmental Protection Agency and Housing and Urban Development.
