Editorial

With alarming frequency, developers who have re­ceived variances from our local towns and villages, allow­ing them to build more senior housing units per acre than generally permitted under local codes, are now asking for relief. They are now saying that the demand for this type of housing has reached a point of saturation. Rather than let these complexes stand vacant, lawmakers are approv­ing

changes in the covenants. Many developers are now able to rent and/or sell these units to younger people and families who place a greater demand on local services. Many years ago, when senior housing was introduced, it was expected to produce affordable units for older Long Islanders living on fixed incomes. By allowing builders to construct more units than the residential codes allowed, it was assumed that they would also be cheaper. That has not, to any significant extent, happened, and many units are selling in our area for $400,000 or more. In addition, even as the demand for this type of housing has dropped, developers continue to build them, con­scious, we are sure, of the advantage of greater density. They banked on the ability to plead hardship after the fact, and have the senior restrictions lifted. The result: more units at even higher prices and financial windfalls. For the communities that approved denser development in exchange for the hope of having moderate-cost housing for their elderly parents and relatives, little has changed and they have been left shortchanged. We believe our public officials have to revisit the program. More than that, they need to ensure that the community reaps some return on the rewards they have given developers.