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GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- An assisted living facility proposed for Greenburgh could include 10 single-person units of affordable housing, the developer's lawyer told the Greenburgh Town Board on Tuesday.
Greenburgh Town Board members met Tuesday morning to discuss the status of Brightview Senior Living. Brightview operates 22 facilities from Washington D.C. to Boston. This facility, proposed for the area south of Woodfield Terrace and east of Benedict Avenue in Tarrytown, would be the first in New York.
Brightview Attorney David Steinmetz is seeking zoning changes that would allow an assisted living facility to be built in town.
"There's no provision in the Greenburgh Town Code to provide assisted living," Steinmetz said on Tuesday. "We really believe we're helping you do something for the community that you guys should have done a while ago."
The board is considering the zoning changes, which would add a definition of "independent and/or assisted living facilities" and create a special permit criteria for those facilities.
Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner stressed the need for affordable options at the facility with the developer, saying it could act as a model for other communities in the future.
"I know people who live in assisted living and it's extremely expensive," Feiner said. "I think (affordable assisted living) could evolve in Westchester communities, but I think it takes one community to start it."
Steinmetz said the facility could offer 20 percent rent discounts to up to 10 moderate-income residents in the 90-unit, three-story facility.
In addition, he said, the company could offer six-month rental discounts of $500 to $1,000 for residents who move into the building within 30 days of opening.
Some board members were concerned about the proposed location of the property because construction of the landscape could create problems like flooding for nearby citizens.
"The senior population is very great in Westchester and there are needs for this. I just want to make sure we do this right," said Council member Diana Juettner.
The board will meet at the Tarrytown site on Sept. 29 to examine potential zoning and property issues and meet with the surrounding community by knocking on doors and asking citizens to address their concerns. That way, "they'll see we're going the extra mile. Maybe we can address some of the concerns before the actual hearing," Feiner said.
The board will hold the public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 10 to consider the law to amend the zoning ordinances.
Comments (1)
The key issue regarding "affordability" is not what the entry price is but what it remains for any domiciled Senior. If no one signs up (despite the favorable demographics), the developer will lower prices until the units are filled.
Once a Senior has moved in is when the "affordability" jukebox starts playing another tune. It's not about providing 20% discounts (against the developer's rate card) so that this group pays less than others (discriminatory?) but how prices for all tenants are set thereafter.
Meanwhile Feiner continues to seek "firsts" for Greenburgh. Apparently he believes he can fool a gullible public into believing that Greenburgh will be the only community with pricing tiers. LOL. As for the early bird specials, these reductions are a lot less than industry practice which offers 1-3 months free rent for those who sign up during an introductory period. Beware of multiple rate cards in circulation. And remember, it is the developer who sets the original price: who's to say what the price will be in the future.
Unlike rent controls (rent stabilization) there are no limits to rent increases other than what the market dictates. Seniors, who are the least mobile group, are the most susceptible to price gouging on this basis over time since they are loathe to move -- again. Unless Mr. Feiner and Mrs. Juettner are talking about seeking some form of rent increase control to protect those who move in from an unregulated future, they are "not doing it right". Everything else out of their mouths is just grandstanding for voters.
As for once again seeking zoning changes for an applicant, just one more reason to laugh (or cry) at the moribund Comprehensive Plan and its $400,000+ cost to taxpayers. Mr. Sheehan, again guilty of wasting tax dollars so that he could hold a command post on a Committee, has now cost residents not only the above amount but also the $175,000 all-inclusive cost of the unused ramp at the Library.
Both needless expenditures stem from his misinformation that they were required by law.
In both situations, his information was false.
And, like always, what is news is more of the same old, same old. Only the headline changes but the songs remains the same: is there any voter that we have failed to appear to act "concerned" about?
Hal Samis