Public housing units now in private hands

Nine two-family houses in Bay Shore have become Long Island's first public housing units to convert to private ownership under a decades-old federal law.

In Tuesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, the long transformation of the Tudor Lane complex was marked by housing leaders and families, including the custodian who was the first to buy in 2006 and a home health aide who bought the last rental in June.

"I felt like higher up in class, like, 'Ooh, I bought a house,' " said Brianna Acevido, 13, whose parents got an $80,000 mortgage in 2006 and a $10,000 grant for the two-bedroom home they had rented for seven years. Brianna got a dog, as promised, and the family put a gazebo in the yard.

The ownership process began when the board of the Islip Housing Authority voted seven years ago to turn over the dead-end street to its renters and other potential homeowners. A 1937 federal housing act allows eligible housing authorities to sell all or a portion of public housing developments with the approval of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD has been chipping in about $100,000 annually to maintain Tudor Lane, while Islip Town had been getting about $54,000 annually in rent from the complex. Now, Islip will get real estate taxes, and the $1 million or so in mortgage payments will help the Long Island Housing Partnership buy and rehab foreclosures into affordable housing.

"Converting it into home ownership would make it a community instead of just a place to live," said Richard Wankel, executive director of the Islip Housing Authority.

Out of the 18 families who became owners, five had been renting on Tudor Lane, four were getting Section 8 housing vouchers and nine were selected in lotteries. Homeowners got $10,000 grants and put 3 percent down on the units, which cost $90,000 to $110,000.

HUD regional director Adol-fo Carrión praised Wankel's agency for being the only housing authority on the Island to offer the American dream: "We are today celebrating the essence of what we are as Americans." Carrión singled out school custodian Choudhry Sidique, who called Islip officials in June to give up his $700 monthly mortgage aid, having gotten a full-time job.

"Now we are able to control and handle the situation," Sidique said, "and we want to give the help to those people who need help more than us.''

Last month was the first time he paid the entire $1,360 monthly mortgage for his modest, four-bedroom duplex, room for him and his wife and three sons. "We are very happy," he said. "It's peace of mind. The children have a little confidence that they have their own home."