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Greenburgh Town Board OKs Affordable Housing Manager

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The Greenburgh Town Board approved a resolution on Friday authorizing the town supervisor to sign an agreement with an affordable housing company, Marathon, to manage 54 one and two-bedroom units of affordable housing for families.

The Greenburgh Town Board approved a resolution allowing Marathon to manage 54 one- and two-bedroom units of affordable housing.

The Greenburgh Town Board approved a resolution allowing Marathon to manage 54 one- and two-bedroom units of affordable housing.

Photo Credit: Samantha Kramer

In 2011,  the county closed WestHELP, a homeless shelter off Knollwood Road. WestHELP was built on the grounds of Westchester Community College in Greenburgh by Andrew Cuomo (when his father was governor). According to an agreement made in 1990, the town has rights to the property for 30 years commencing upon the termination of the WestHELP lease. The requirement: the town must provide housing for low and moderate income persons. If they do not, the property reverts back to the county.

The town has rights to the property for approximately 15 more years. Since the WestHELP facility closed, the town has tried to use the property for a public purpose.

Town Board members Ken Jones and Kevin Morgan worked to meet with county and school officials. The town board came up with a proposal to build 74 units of affordable housing for seniors 62 years and older. The town would receive $2.2 million minus mold remediation costs. Valhalla school officials met with town officials and did not object.

This past week, Marathon came up with a compromise proposal of 54 apartments instead of 74. The units would be two-bedroom units for senior citizens ages 62 and up. Instead of the town receiving $2.2 million minus mold remediation costs, the town would receive $1.9 million, minus the mold remediation. The conditions of the proposal are that 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.

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