Village Employees Eligible For Affordable Housing

Applications to live in brand new affordable housing units will be dispensed to the public by the on Monday, but its Village employees themselves who have a leg up in the applicant pool.

So the eligibility requirements for an affordable unit in the Plaza Landmark development, at 245-265 Great Neck Road, state:

“Priority for the available units will be given to the following persons: persons who have been members of the Hook & Ladder company of the for at least five consecutive years, combat residents who are residents of the Village; current Village employees who have been employed for at least five consecutive years, persons under 30 years old who have resided in the Village for at least 10 years before application, and persons 65 years or older who have resided within the Village for at least 15 years,” reads a notice about the 19 available apartments.

If not enough people already living in Great Neck Plaza within those categories apply for the units, people who fill those same roles within the Great Neck Peninsula at large are given the next level of priority.

Though applications are being dispensed by the Village of Great Neck Plaza, eligibility will be assessed by the development company, Lalezarian Properties, according to a Village employee who did not want to be quoted for this story.

The criteria were established to retain certain kinds of people, such as volunteer firemen, young people and civil servants living within the Village, according to the Village.

The same source also said the 19 units are set aside to fulfill a Village law requiring all new developments within Great Neck Plaza to offer affordable housing. Because Lalezarian Properties is offering affordable workforce housing, the law extends them the courtesy of a speedy building permit application process.

The minimum income for a single person applying is $37,650, and the maximum is $75,300. A couple applying for affordable housing must make between $43,000 and $87,000. Rents will be capped at 30 percent of the household income.

“More rental housing is desperately needed in Nassau County, as it will help keep our young people here in Nassau,” said County Executive Ed Mangano, adding, “I commend the Lalezarians for investing their dollars in this workforce housing project.”

Lalezarian Properties did not respond to a request for comment. Once eligibility is assessed, applicants will be chosen by lottery.