Answers to Common Questions

Q: How was the need for affordable housing in Westchester established?

A: Based on a study conducted in 1991 by Rutgers State University Center for Urban Policy and Research  for Westchester, the County Board of Legislators quantified the need for affordable housing at 5,000 units to be built by the year 2000.  Less than 3,000 units were actually developed by the end of the decade. The study was again updated in March 2004 showing a need for an additional 10,768 units of affordable housing to be created 2005-2015. Click here to go to 2004 study.

Q: How will affordable housing affect property values in my neighborhood?

A: Research conducted by numerous independent groups has regularly documented that contemporary affordable housing has no impact on nearby property values, and in some cases actually contributes to increases in property values.

Why?  Because contemporary affordable housing combines attractive design with professional tenant
and property management.

Built for municipal workers, volunteer emergency corps members and town residents, Hommocks Park was financed with County, State, Federal and Town of Mamaroneck finds.

Q: Why do we need affordable housing in my community?

A: As public workers and service volunteers move away and are not replaced, Westchester’s local governments have difficulty recruiting employees and enlisting personnel for services traditionally handled by volunteers, placing a greater burden on local taxpayers.

Communities also lose an important fraction of consumer spending when employees of local enterprises are unable to find suitable rental or home owner units in the county.

Small business and corporations benefit from the availability of competitively priced employees.  Affordable housing helps build the supply of employees and keeps businesses in the county.

Q: Will affordable housing be compatible with my neighborhood?

A: Yes.  Affordable housing proposals are required to undergo design review and comply with all local planning and building codes.

In fact, many affordable housing developments have won design awards because they reflect the character of the surrounding neighborhood, enhance the natural environment and preserve local traditions.

Q: Will affordable housing residents be good neighbors?

A: Yes.  Affordable housing residents are very much like their neighbors.  They want to live in safe, attractive housing in good neighborhoods.

Often, they are persons who already work in the community, young families who grew up in the area or seniors who have lived in the community for years.

Residents of affordable rentals sign leases which commit them to be responsible tenants.

Professional property management is responsive to community concerns that may arise.

Affordable home ownership, like all home ownership, gives residents a stake in the community.

They also pay taxes and want to keep their community a good place to live.

Q: How are neighbors concerns about affordable housing considered?

A: Affordable housing developments must meet local code requirements, which are intended to anticipate neighbors’ concerns.

Affordable housing proposals are subject to the same public review processes as market rate housing—including public hearings before local boards.

Developers may also consult with neighborhood organizations or hold community meetings to get input or to involve neighbors in the design process.

Q: How will affordable housing affect my taxes?

A: Affordable housing owners pay taxes the same as all property owners.

Making certain that affordable housing is available to persons interested in volunteer services, such as volunteer fire departments and emergency rescue programs, helps communities avoid the high cost of paying for these services.

Q: Will affordable housing cause traffic noise and parking problems?

A: Traffic, noise, parking and similar issues are controlled by local codes just as in any other development project, and are reviewed in the environmental and design stages by the community planning boards, environmental review boards and city/town councils. 

Q: Is affordable housing a problem only in Westchester County?

A: No.  The lack of affordable housing is a national problem being addressed by local communities across the country.  According to a report published by the New York Times, New York State ranked 49th in the construction of new housing units between 1990 and 1998.  While New York State funding for the development of affordable housing has remained at a consistent level for the last decade, it has declined in real terms when inflation and increasing development costs are taken into account. 

Financing was provided by Westchester County, New York State, conventional loans and developers' equity to build Stone Creek for municipal workers, school district employees, volunteer emergency workers and town residents of the Town of New Castle

Q: How are the demands on the city’s services and infrastructure handled by the development?

A: Affordable housing developments, like all developments, are required to pay for infrastructure and other impacts of the development

Q: What are non-profit developers and what is their role?

A: The private sector provides housing for the majority of people in a community. 

However, as the costs of purchasing land and building housing soars, it becomes more difficult for the private sector to build housing for those who need it while generating a sufficient return for investors.  Non-profit development organizations are created for charitable purposes to perform a service to the community: to develop housing for middle- and lower-income families, seniors and people with disabilities which the private sector cannot provide.  Since 1990, non-profit developers have created 1,504 units of affordable housing in Westchester.  Many non-profit developers are local community or faith-based organizations, who consider their work a critical community service. 

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