Rockland County Has Big Plans For Vacant Sain Building In New City

NEW CITY, NY — County officials have unveiled ambitious plans for the Sain Building in New City.

County Executive Ed Day, along with members of the County Legislature and Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann, announced last week the plan to redevelop the Sain Building located at 18 New Hempstead Road, which has been vacant since 2017, into mixed-use commercial space and workforce housing.

"Rockland County is at a crossroads," Day said. "We’ve heard from seniors, families, business owners, and young adults about the challenges they face in finding affordable housing. This housing crisis is not just about homes — it’s about the future of our community. We must act decisively to ensure that Rockland remains a place where people can live, work, and thrive."

Once the legislature declares the property surplus, which it has agreed to do, the county’s Division of Purchasing will issue a Request for Proposals for the redevelopment of the roughly 3.69-acre site.

Rockland County legislators in attendance during the announcement included Lon Hofstein, Beth Davidson, Doug Jobson, Will Kennelly, Jesse Malowitz, Aney Paul, Ray Sheridan, Aron Wieder, and Itamar Yeger.

"Rockland County should be applauded for pursuing smart and aggressive strategies to combat its housing shortage. If the Hudson Valley hopes to alleviate its housing crisis, local governments must play an active role by allowing, encouraging, and incentivizing more housing for people across the full spectrum of incomes," Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress CEO Adam Bosch said. "County Executive Ed Day and the County Legislature have created positive momentum Wednesday by announcing a plan that will help to preserve a workforce, support local businesses, and give the next generation a chance to be home in Rockland County."

This past spring, the Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress completed Rockland County’s first-ever comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment which identified significant gaps in housing affordability and availability:

• Over 40 percent of Rockland residents spend over 30 percent of their income on housing.
• The median home price in Rockland County has increased to $700,000.
• The median household income in Rockland County is $100,000, which qualifies for a $260,000 mortgage.

In order to address this crisis, Rockland County has launched key initiatives:

• With the support of the County Legislature, $13.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been set aside to provide direct loans for creating or preserving workforce housing. Officials say demand for the program has been high, with application requests totaling over $29.7 million.
• A new marketing and education campaign will start soon to inform residents about Rockland County's housing needs and discuss common myths about affordable housing.
• Redevelopment of the Sain Building will create new workforce housing for essential workers, generate almost $500,000 in property taxes annually, and enhance the area.

"Our comprehensive plan called for mixed-use housing here at the Sain building and in anticipation of this day I want to thank the County Executive and County Legislature for working together and their vision for this property," Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said. "We look forward to this property coming onto the tax rolls and pledge my support and support all the staff in the Town of Clarkstown."