Affordable Housing Developer Sues Southampton

An affordable housing developer in the Hamptons is taking his rejection to the legal system.

Concern for Independent Living’s Ralph Fasano is suing the Town of Southampton over the dismissal of a 50-unit affordable housing project, Liberty Gardens, that has been in the works for seven years, the New York Times reported.

The lawsuit sheds light on the difficulty of developing affordable housing on the East End.

Fasano alleged in his complaint on Wednesday that the town is discriminating against those with mental illness, violating federal law. Half the units were reserved for veterans and those with serious mental illness.

Southampton’s town attorney responded that the project was rejected because of sewage and wastewater disposal concerns, as well as fears of traffic congestion. He said the town was willing to “explore further options and to see if an appropriate solution can be reached.”

It was the town itself which had initially approached Concern to lead an affordable housing project behind Southampton Full Gospel Church on County Road 39, according to the lawsuit. The development was slated for a wooded lot behind the church, financed by federal and state subsidies.

Rents would have started at $300 for select one-bedroom apartments, $1,200 for the others and $1,900 for two-bedroom units.

But public meetings grew contentious between the project’s proposal and its rejection in June. Residents voiced concerns about density and stretching the town’s resources too thin. A few even described tenants as “a compromised population,” according to the lawsuit. Town board member Cyndi McNamara was a vocal opponent of the project as she unsuccessfully ran for town supervisor last year.

Southampton seemingly wants more affordable housing projects, just not this one. A recent housing plan released by the town stated the critical need for more affordable units.

Meanwhile, the land behind the church currently houses homeless encampments.

— Holden Walter-Warner