Greenburgh Awaits Decision on Affordable Housing Proposal for WestHELP Site
At its last meeting, the Greenburgh Town Board approved a resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to sign an agreement with Marathon, an affordable housing company, to manage 54 one- and two-bedroom units of affordable housing for families at the site of the former WestHELP homeless shelter located off of Knollwood Road.
Having been asked why this decision was made, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner decided to circulate an email providing a bit of history and explanation about the current proposal.
In 2011 the county closed WestHELP, which was built on the grounds of Westchester Community College by Andrew Cuomo (when his father was Governor), Feiner explained.
According to an agreement in 1990, Greenburgh was given rights to the property for 30 years commencing upon the termination of the WestHELP lease. The requirement specified at the time was that the Town must provide housing for low- and moderate-income persons. If Greenburgh does not do this the, property would revert back to the county.
The town has rights to the property for approximately 15 more years.
Feiner further explained that numerous proposals had been made since the closing of WestHELP, but each was turned down for various reasons. Greenburgh was even told by Westchester Community College that it might need the property for student housing.
Working quietly, the Town Board negotiated a proposal with Marathon for 54 two-bedroom apartments, all senior citizen housing. The town would receive $1.9 million minus mold remediation. The condition: the lease would also have to be extended to 30 years, an action that the county government would have to take since the town does not have rights to the property after 15 years.
According to Feiner’s communication, the County Executive’s office advised the Town Board that they would advise the town sometime around Labor Day whether or not they will support a proposal to extend the lease for 30 years and to allow senior citizen housing at the site.
