WHITE PLAINS – For the fifth year in a row, Westchester County has exceeded its benchmarks for development 750 units of affordable housing under the 2009 settlement with the federal government. County Executive Robert Astorino said the county finished 2015 with financing in place for 649 units, 49 more than required and building permits in place for 579 units, 54 more than required.
The county met the benchmarks for units with financing in November. It
went over the top for units with building permits this week when the City
of Rye issued permits for 41 units on Theodore Fremd Avenue and the Town
of New Castle issued permits for 28 units on Hunts Place.
Astorino said the county has never failed to meet a benchmark under the settlement since they began in 2011.
“Our continued success proves we are committed to meeting the county’s obligations under the settlement; local zoning codes are non-discriminatory and support the development of fair and affordable housing; and cooperation – not litigation – is the best way to build housing,” Astorino said.
Under the terms of the settlement with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the US Justice Department, the county is required to spend at least $51.6 million to develop 750 units of affordable housing by the end of 2016 in 31 “eligible” communities defined by their African-American and Hispanic populations in the 2000 census.
