Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $30 Million Affordable Senior Housing Development in Suffolk County

LongIsland.com

Bayshore senior residence in the town of Islip features 75 affordable apartments for adults 55 and older.

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The Bayshore Senior Residence.

Photo by: Office of Governor Hochul

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the completion of a $30 million housing development in the hamlet of Bay Shore in Suffolk County. The Bayshore Senior Residence provides 75 affordable homes for households with at least one resident age 55 or older. The LGBT Network will operate a senior center on the building's ground floor.   
 
"New York State's communities thrive when everyone—not just the wealthy and privileged—has a safe and affordable place to call home," Governor Hochul said. "That's why my administration will fight to achieve housing equality for all, especially for New Yorkers who identify as LGBTQ and are often disproportionately impacted by homelessness and housing discrimination. The Bayshore Senior Residence is another example of our commitment to ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to decent housing that they can afford with the care and support they need to thrive."  
 
The Bayshore Senior Residence includes 75 apartments affordable to households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the Area Median Income. The project's developer is The D&F Development Group, LLC.  
 
Twelve apartments are reserved for households in need of supportive services provided by the LGBT Network. The property also features an 8,000 square foot state-of-the-art senior center operated by the LGBT Network on the building's ground floor, which offers services and programming related to health and wellness, food and nutrition, and the arts.  
 
The development is conveniently located near retail shops, transportation, recreation, and medical services. Each apartment has Energy Star appliances and central air conditioning. The building has a laundry room, a community room, an intercom system and security cameras. Eleven apartments are accessible for persons with mobility or hearing impairments.  
 
State financing for Bayshore Senior Residence includes Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $19 million in equity and $3.2 million in subsidy from HCR. Additional financing was provided by CPC/New York City Employees Retirement System, Suffolk County, a deferred developer fee, and D&F/LGBT Network equity. 
 
HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "Our road to recovery from the pandemic relies on our commitment to justice and our efforts to serve those who need our support the most. Through our partnership with the LGBT Network and the D&F Development Group, we have created a safe and welcoming living environment for 75 households and a brand-new senior center that will benefit and enrich the LGBT community in Suffolk County. The $32 million Bayshore Senior Residence offers an array of services and programming that will empower residents to live proud, active, healthy and fulfilling lives. Projects like this one honor New York's diversity and expand opportunity and inclusivity for all."  
 
The Bayshore Senior Residence is part of the state's unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan to make housing accessible and combat homelessness by building or preserving more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 with supportive services. Since 2011, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested more than $366 million in Long Island that has created or preserved nearly 3,000 affordable homes.    
 
Peter G. Florey, Principal of The D & F Development Group, LLC, said, "We wish to thank NYS Homes & Community Renewal, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning, town of Islip, town of Islip Industrial Development Agency, POKO Partners, LLC, Xenolith Partners, LLC, the Long Island Housing Partnership and of course, the LGBT Network who provided essential funding and support to make this first of its kind housing possible. Without this support, this incredibly important development would not have been possible." 
 
Dr. David Kilmnick, President/CEO of the LGBT Network, said, "We are proud and honored to open the nation's first suburban LGBT/LGBT-friendly affordable housing & our 3rd LGBT Community Center on Long Island. The support we have received from the groundbreaking several years ago to this moment is a testament to how far our community has come and how we continue to work collaboratively and collectively to embrace the LGBT community in our region. While we still have a long way to go, the new housing and LGBT Center along with the health, human services and advocacy programs that will be provided will ensure that our LGBT elders age gracefully without fear of discrimination and will proudly display, embrace, value and celebrate their lives. We need to make sure we honor and take care of our LGBT elders as it was this generation who fought so hard for the rights we all have today."
 
Senator Phil Boyle said, "I'm pleased to welcome the first LBGT-Friendly affordable senior apartment complex to the Hamlet of Bay Shore. In addition to providing affordable housing, the state of the art senior citizen center, run by the LGBT Network will be extremely beneficial to the residents.  I thank the State Housing and Community Renewal Agency for providing $3.2 million in funding that helped to make this historic housing project viable."
 
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, "Affordable housing is critical to growing our downtowns, and it's not just young people looking for these types of apartments, its seniors looking to downsize and take a break from the maintenance of owning a home. This LGBT-friendly development, the first of its kind here on Long Island, will provide our seniors who may have previously struggled to find a place where they felt they belonged, a permanent, safe home right here in Suffolk County."