40-unit low, moderate-income housing proposed for North Hudson

ELIZABETHTOWN | The Essex County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting to discuss selling a 27.8-acre parcel of land in North Hudson to Blue Line Development, Oct. 30. The company would build 40 units of low to moderate-income housing. Blue Line Development proposed a bid of $150,000. The property is currently assessed at $118,400. Kevin Kavanaugh, owner of Blueline Development spoke to the board about the proposal. Kavanaugh said he has done a market study to determine the demand for the type of housing people need and how much they make, in the area. The study found housing for households that earn 30 percent to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), about $25,000 to $80,000 annually, is the population they should target. The company is also looking at building a "sister building," in a nearby town like Newcomb. Blue Line will hire an on-site superintendent who will manage the property and potential "sister property." Wilmington Supervisor Roy Holzer asked what kind of interaction the company has had with the town of North Hudson town board and supervisor about the project. "We've been already working together pretty well," Kavanaugh said. "I was asked to present before the town board and members of the public a couple of weeks ago. We had about a two-hour meeting about this and there were a lot of questions, relevant questions." The Town of North Hudson held a special board meeting, Oct. 11, for Kavanaugh to present. Nicole Justice Green, executive director of PRIDE of Ticonderoga and Essex County Land Bank and Megan Murphy, executive director of Adirondack Roots, also spoke at the meeting. At the following regular board meeting, the board passed a resolution in support of the project. North Hudson Supervisor Stephanie DeZalia said both meetings drew community members with lots of questions. Essex Supervisor Ken Hughes wanted to know how Kavanaugh can guarantee that this property is still inhabited by low to moderate-income families, 30 years in the future. Kavanaugh explained that one of the primary financiers of the project would be Low-Income Tax Credits, a state program that provides "dollar-for-dollar reduction in state taxes to investors in qualified low-income housing." He said he also has no problem including a deed restriction that makes the apartments affordable in perpetuity. "I do appreciate you saying that because I'm concerned about gentrification," Hughes said. "I'm concerned about the next generations of these low and moderate-income families who want to move here or are continuing to live here losing that opportunity. And so I want to see something that can allow individuals to have affordable housing for the future." The market analysis also found the apartments would be lived in by people who live and/or work in towns within a 30-minute radius, like Ticonderoga, Moriah and Schroon Lake. All of the units will be rented, none will be for sale. The Board went into executive session to discuss legal advice concerning contracts. When they returned, Chairman Shaun Gillilland reported they had some discussions, but no decisions were made. All supervisors voted "yes" and the resolution carried. This means they will enter into a contract with Blue Line Development for $150,000. The contract is still subject to conditions that they will continue to negotiate.

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40-unit low, moderate-income housing proposed for North Hudson

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