Politics & Government

Comment Round-Up: Affordable Housing Controversy Rages in Riverside

Tell us what you think in the comments section.

Controversy between the Southampton Town board and members of the Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton Civic Association continues to heat up, with readers weighing in on a rift regarding in the area.

For some time, FRNCA has opposed the development of single family, property-tax exempt rental housing in the Riverside area.

FRNCA members and other community groups believe those properties should be developed for affordable home ownership, not rentals.

The group has stated their opposition to the town board and had a statement read into the record. But despite that opposition, the town board decided to have the Housing Authority conduct a direct mailing to the community to determine whether there is support for more single family, tax exempt rental houses for Riverside.

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Richard Blowes, executive director of the town's housing authority, has said the goal is to as possible.

The move has sparked outrage amongst many civic members and residents who believe Riverside is being singled out for rental properties.

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The proposal in question, said FRNCA president Brad Bender, who said he is not against affordable housing, but believes the properties should be developed for affordable home ownership, is for tax exempt properties for affordable rental through the Town’s Housing Authority. “Those properties pay zero property tax, thus shifting the burden of lost revenue to the homeowners in the district," Bender said. 

Here's a roundup of what Patch readers think. Tell us your thoughts in the comments section: 

: "If the whole town -- not just the least affluent section of the town -- are required to pay the full school, fire, ambulance and library taxes, affordable rentals would more acceptable.

If the Southampton Housing Authority TRULY is interested in building tax exempt affordable single family rental housing, why the hell are they not building these units in the rich sections of town? Because, the rich don't want to pay more taxes. They want to push the burden onto the people who can least afford it.

Way to go, Housing Authority!"

h: "There is no way possible that the Southampton Town Board, (past and present) and Housing Authority do not where the communities stand on this issue. We have had COUNTLESS meetings and discussions over the YEARS. NO MORE RENTAL HOUSING. WE HAVE ENOUGH. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE ANY MORE PROPERTY TAKEN OFF THE TAX ROLLS, 85% percent of the land is already off the tax rolls that we pay an unfair school tax rate on. This will effect every homeowner in the town of Southampton that pays school taxes to Riverhead. We are being taxed out of our homes as it is, so hey lets just increase the tax burden on the hardest hit communities and do some bogus survey to justify it."

, FRNCA president: "What I find to be the largest insult is that after 4 community groups got together and agreed that single family tax exempt rentals were not wanted the Town looks to find a way to get the answer they want and them circumvent the wishes of the many taxpaying concerned citizens."

, FRNCA vice president: "Bob, You are right on target. If the Town Board of Riverhead decides to build tax exempt single family homes anywhere in that town, all that town's taxpayers share in providing the subsidy for those units. Thus, the entire town benefits from having affordable housing and the entire town proportionally shares the cost of that policy. All contribute in proportion to the value of their property which is quite progressive.

But in Southampton, with so many small school districts, the Town Board can create the affordable housing benefit for the entire town but only the poorest property owners who are located in just one school district must pick up the tab. 
One can argue that it is only a few dollars per household and we in Flanders,Riverside and Northampton shouldn't complain. But try and pass a resolution at the Southampton Town Board that would provide a town wide revenue source to compensate for these tax exempt homes and the richest people on eastern Long Island will stop them cold. In fact, not one member of the Town Board has proposed legislation to add just pennies to the tax bills of the wealthiest property owners so that their workforce will have housing, schools and libraries.

I think we have just about reached the polar opposite of the Progressive Movement in American government policy and Southampton makes the case."

: "And is it a safe assumption that Richard Blowes is in charge of this assault? The same guy that renovated the Flander Nutrition site at an outrageous cost? The same guy that was responsible for the abortion of a town court complex? 

Town Board, how clear can we make it? Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton are NOT a dumping ground for your pet projects. This will haunt you."

: "Yes, Terry, this project is being implemented by the executive director of the Housing Authority: the one and only Richard Blowes.

As you may recall, the Town Board paid the Housing Authority to employ him for four years. The Town Board agreed to pay the full cost as an incentive to get him to "retire."

The Town Board saved Southampton from Mr. Blowe's bungled projects. The Town Board has sicced Mr. Blows on Riverside, Flanders & Northampton. The most amazing thing is that the Town Board is backing him 100% and encouraging him to do for the Housing Authority what he did for the town for all those years.

God help us."

: "We can all agree that affordable ‘workforce’ housing is needed, particularly on the South Fork, where there is a wealthy segment of the community that has large demands for services provided by this workforce. This workforce housing should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen the community, and be part of the ongoing efforts to ‘clean up’ and better the F/R/N area and eliminate blight, as outlined in the F/N/R Revitalization Study (adopted by the town in 2004). This can only be done through affordable home ownership, not through tax free rentals. Helping to make people homeowners will provide them with a vested interest in their town, and a very strong reason to appropriately maintain and improve their properties, and to become involved in the community. 

The fact that this proposed housing would be tax free only adds insult to injury. Facilitating a ‘transient’ rental population, that would utilize the schools, fire/ambulance services, libraries, etc, at no cost to them, while increasing the taxes on the families that actually call these hamlets home, is unconscionable. The towns’ revitalization study lists eliminating blight as one of the most critical elements of improving our area, tax free rental housing is the exact opposite of this goal. We have enough circumvention of the tax rolls already with the large amount of absentee landlords overcrowding their rental housing in our community, let’s not have the town further contribute to the problem."

: "All one has to do is drive thru our communities and you can pick out the rental properties. I have one right next door to my home, it is run down. I have people coming to my door asking for money (saying they live next door) and at times I fear my home will be robbed or worse yet, a bullet will come thru my wall or window(which almost already happened, there has been gunfire from this house). We want more of this? This proposed project sounds as if we will have a new "Greens" (of Riverhead) now in our community. I am adamently against this proposal and will be contacting each Southampton official. This will also bring down home values, no doubt."

, Flanders resident and active member of FRNCA: "I feel the town should pay more attention to the people who live in these affected hamlets. Our opinions are important and no one wants local government to carry on like they do in Congress. In my opinion, the Towns "Closed Door" decisions are not in our best interest. I don't want to be descriminated against, like living on the other side of the tracks, or in any other negative way. When I meet the Town Officials at various events, they all boast that they are for our best interest, I feel good about that and am willing to "have their backs as well". Lets hope that they really mean it and give us the same respect which we deserve. 

I regret that I'll be out of town for said meeting, I don't miss many and I want to know that my time and effort is valued and not simply to placate the Town Board. 
I strongly feel that the Town Boards decision is inappropriate!"

: "This is the first time im hearing of this.Southampton Housing Authority needs to rethink this decision. I will back my back my civic association 110%."

:  "As long as we stay united, we will succeed in defending our community against town policies that harm our neighborhoods. Only in Flanders, Riverside and Northampton will you find four very different community organizations supporting and defending each other. We may not have the big bucks but we have each other. And, we have friends in other civic associations across the town who will come to our aid. Because after us, it could be them and we all know that."

: "I agree that these areas need to be cleaned up and affordable house rentals are not the way to do it. I have never seen a renter that takes care of the grounds or house the way a home owner does. They have no reason to. I only moved here three years ago from Southampton and I never experienced this kind of neglect with our roads and neighborhoods before. I also pay way more taxes here then in Southampton too. More taxes and less attention, it is a frustrating feeling. Let's get some home ownership for people who will be grateful for the opportunity to own and care about where they live making it a better place for all involved. I am against the Town's proposal and will support my civic association on this issue."

: "A homeowner has a vested interest to care for their house and property. A renter doesn't. A homeowner pays into the provided services we have. A renter doesn't. Our community has expressed home ownership of these properties from the beginning. The Southampton Town Board works for the taxpayor and must listen to what we have to say and do the right thing. No More Rentals."

m: "It's totally unfair to have more rental housing in Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton. We have enough of those units. Members of the Southampton board who are in favor of the idea of rental housing should vote to have such housing put up in the communities where they live."


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