This letter is written in response to the July 25 article entitled 'Farmingdale Community Land Trust has plans for affordable housing'.

Thank you for covering this local movement that offers a potential solution to the LI housing crisis. However, we would like to offer a broader perspective on the issue as it impacts the Long Island region. Today, Long Island leaders are talking about the issue of affordable housing more than ever. Beyond the discussions, meetings and reports, how much is being done to agree and take action on the path with the most potential toward resolving this critical issue?

Over the past two years the LI Index, Rutgers University and the LIA have stated in reports that 'Long Island needs 60,000 to 100,000 units of affordable housing to reduce the flight of our young people from leaving and to help business grow on Long Island.' That is an astounding number, over 60,000 units. The talk must continue but we also need to agree on the best solutions. So far only minor attempts have been offered; either increase density per acre or mandate that a percent of new units be set aside as 'somewhat' affordable. This past June, New York State, after five years of debate, passed a bill that will now mandate all new developments of five or more units have 10 percent of the units set aside as 'some-what' affordable.

What does affordable really mean to you? Unfortunately, the general perception of the word 'affordable' is not always the same nor is it always very positive. However, you should know that the income guidelines on Long Island for affordable housing are $106,600 per year. That is for a family of four which translates to 120 percent of the median area income.

Understanding that this issue and more should be better addressed, a group of Farmingdale residents in 2007 launched a community-based planning study group called Discover Farmingdale. This is an intergenerational group made up of civic leaders and residents of all ages promoting self-study through dialogue, debate, learning and doing toward a sustainable future. It continues to be a significant undertaking to bring residents, business and government officials from our five municipalities together. Note that the community of Farmingdale includes the unincorporated hamlets of East Farmingdale in the Town of Babylon, Suffolk County and South Farmingdale, North Massapequa and the Incorporated Village of Farmingdale in the Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County. We believe there can be real opportunity by employing the Community Land Trust model. The opportunity does exist to develop 100 percent permanently affordable shared equity housing. There is also the potential to develop other properties that meet public needs; such as health facilities, recreation centers, commercial downtown revitalization projects and also empty-nester housing for our older generation, all of which would become community assets under the local Community Land Trust model. However, it will require a working partnership of local government officials, business leaders, civic groups and community residents to make this all happen.

After years of talk Long Islanders need a new solution that can address the issue now and into the future. Let us start to explore together the potential of the Community Land Trust model and 'shared equity housing' toward 100 percent permanent affordability as a municipal-civic enterprise in Farmingdale and in other communities across Long Island. If you would like more info and/or to become involved in this local effort please contact the Discover Farmingdale Study Group by email at charles.gosline@ngc.com

Chuck Gosline
Discover Farmingdale Team Lead