Relaxing-Fun

We stopped by the protest against the Matinecock Housing development in East Northport earlier this afternoon. It’s been an issue in Huntington for over 3 decades and has recently gained momentum and is close to happening, with construction scheduled to commence next year. I remember the protests against this in the 80′s while I was in high school. Residents fear that “low income” families will bring with them the sort of problems that have arisen at other developments in nearby Huntington Station and elsewhere. The second precinct, which patrols Huntington Station, is one of the busiest and most dangerous on Long Island, and as gangs proliferate, crime and violence increase.

It appears that since this has been an “ongoing” issue for decades, many residents are growing immune to news and breaking developments. There are still a few obstacles but nothing that appears to be insurmountable for Housing Help Inc. (HHI), the owners of the property, except perhaps the community response. They have fought it this long and it looks like they’ll keep fighting.

There is a group of community residents that have begun a Facebook page titled Stop the Matinecock Housing Development in East Northport, NY. They are trying to alert the community to the recent developments and let them have a say before it is too late.

Here are several talking points against the project from their Facebook Page:

1. Affordable Housing may be already here: The housing market on Long Island is flooded with thousands of already available homes, co-op’s, condo’s and rentals. Mortgage rates are at historic lows, making payments, when qualified, more affordable than ever. Some speculate that Suffolk County home prices have still not hit bottom and may fall an additional 12%, and in addition, foreclosures and short sales persist.

2. Air Pollution: There have been studies done that there are toxins in the soil. Construction and removal of the surface soil may release toxins such as arsenic into the air, into our neighborhoods, and into our surrounding schools.

3. Water Pollution: They intend to place a SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT on the site. Byproducts and Hazardous Materials will exist. This will be built in proximity of our SOLE SOURCE AQUIFER, and the COUNTY WELL FIELD that provides our PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY as well as TWO SCHOOLS, the LIRR and a LIPA substation.

4. School Impact: The Northport School District has recently stated that they intend to lay off staff, discontinue programs, and increase class sizes. No one knows or can predict how many children will suddenly be wedged into classes. Their claim is that a study done 16 years ago is adequate. In addition: The SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT and SOIL REMEDIATION and related hazards are in close proximity to TWO SCHOOLS.

5. Safety: No one disputes traffic will be adversely and dramatically affected, so imagine our children and parents having to fight the intersections and train track crossings – which leads us to:

6. Taking From our Kids: They intend to use eminent domain via the County to grab land from Pulaski Rd. Elementary School to improve Elwood Road access to THEIR project, while destroying ball fields and play areas, and diminishing safety barriers from the roadway to the school property.

7. No experience: HHI have not developed, built or managed a property of this magnitude. It is hard to imagine that they have the skills to manage, maintain and respond to the needs of such a large project.

8. Ask a Question, Get a History Lesson: Feel free to check their documents. Many of HHI’s cited studies that they hold so dear and use to stay “on message” are often 10 to 20 years old. Do you base your family’s decisions today on plans you made in 1994? HHI does. This is a very different world, population, economy, and town as compared to 20 years ago.

As we went down Pulaski Road about 5 minutes, we passed Winoka Village, a completed low income project just down the road. There were multiple signs displaying the availability of apartments. After reading the first point by the Stop the Matinecock group it looks like they may be on to something there.

Check out the new website for the Stop the Matinecock Court Housing Project.