Port Washington senior housing plan nixed

After facing contentious opposition earlier this week, the North Hempstead Housing Authority has decided to withdraw plans to build a 48-unit affordable senior housing complex on a 1.5-acre site in Port Washington.

Authority chairman Matthew Cuomo said Friday the agency would work with community leaders to find another location in Port Washington.

"I'm confident at the end of this we're going to find a suitable place for this housing," Cuomo said.

The decision follows a public hearing before the North Hempstead town council Tuesday night that lasted more than four hours.

The housing authority wanted to build the three-story complex with underground parking on the same property as the Harbor Homes affordable housing community.

Neighbors of the site and former Harbor Homes residents worried the project would create too much traffic, lower property values, loom over existing housing and take away open space once used for recreation.

After the hearing, Supervisor Jon Kaiman encouraged opposition leaders and the authority to work together to find another location.

"The better way is to work with the community," Kaiman said. "If you're not going to have the community support to fight the fight, it can be very difficult to make this happen."

Port Washington resident Myron Blumenfeld, who was among those against the project, hailed the decision.

"If they're backing away, I'm going to applaud them," Blumenfeld said. "I'm so proud of my community. I think they all came together and spoke in one loud voice."

More than 40 people spoke at Tuesday's meeting.

The housing authority will create a committee including members from the League of Women Voters Port Washington Manhasset, Community Chest of Port Washington, Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington and other groups to work toward finding a suitable site.