13-Acre LI Site Targeted For NY's 1st Housing Project: Hochul

EAST FARMINGDALE, NY — New York state is looking to turn a 13-acre plot in East Farmingdale into an affordable housing complex, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday. It would be the first state property targeted for a housing project, Hochul said.

Hochul, a Democrat, issued a request for proposal to purchase and redevelop the Conklin Street site, which is owned by the New York State Department of Transportation as part of Republic Airport. The site has been vacant since the 1990s and does not serve the airport, according to the state.

The state called for transforming the "blighted and underutilized lot" into a "thriving, mixed-use residential development."

"We just secured a landmark housing deal that will make New York more affordable and livable, and now we're getting to work to turn it into reality," Hochul said in a news release. "Leveraging state-owned land is a significant opportunity to increase housing supply and help New Yorkers find a place to call home."

Empire State Development anticipates that 20 percent of the housing on the development will be affordable housing units restricted to households earning 80 percent of the Area Median Income.

"The redevelopment of the state-owned Conklin Street in East Farmingdale will transform this blighted area while providing much needed housing," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, a Republican, stated. "I support Governor Hochul’s efforts to improve the East Farmingdale community."

The project site is within the Town of Babylon, Suffolk County, bordered by Conklin Street to the south, MTA’s Long Island Rail Road tracks to the north, and Broadhollow Road/Route 110 to the west. The site was previously used for airplane manufacturing, but the structures are now vacant and set for demolition, according to the state. The lot is a mile from both the Farmingdale and Pinelawn LIRR stations and is near to Route 110, a large commercial center.

Empire State Development, with the Town of Babylon, aims to establish a mixed-use hub that provides "critically needed" residential housing and adds economic growth and new job opportunities within East Farmingdale and across the region.

The development aims to provide public open space, connect pedestrians with nearby commercial centers and deliver other community amenities.

"The Conklin Street RFP represents a significant opportunity to create a vibrant, mixed-use development that will enhance the local community and contribute to the region's economic growth," Empire State Development President CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said. "ESD looks forward to bringing this project to fruition and unlocking the full potential of this site."

The development plan must include sufficient parking, sustainable designs, resilience, and energy efficiency, the state said, to meet New York’s Climate Act. It must also meet all FAA and NYSDOT requirements to allow for the release of the property before development can begin.

Some remediation may be needed on the site for "potential subsurface environmental contamination," the state said, which will be supported by an up to $4 million Department of Housing and Urban Development grant to the Town of Babylon, secured by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Representative Andrew Garbarino.

Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, a Democrat, said he commends Hochul for addressing the "long-standing blight" in East Farmingdale.

"...I'm pleased to see the state's commitment to revitalizing this site," Schaffer said. "We will ensure that any development aligns with the needs and values of our residents and community."

The request for purchase is part of Hochul's mission to address the state's "housing crisis" and increase the state’s housing supply as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted Budget. The budget includes an opt-in tax incentive program for mixed-income and 100 percent affordable new construction or conversion multifamily rental projects outside of New York City; a $500 million capital fund to develop up to 15,000 new homes on state-owned land; new, strengthened protections for homeowners from deed theft; and more than $600 million in capital investments to support housing statewide.

Hochul also has a five-year $25 billion Housing Plan she announced in the 2023 budget to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations.

So far, more than 5,800 homes have been built or preserved on Long Island.