Things are kind of a mess at the corner of Edgar Place and Cottage Street – but they’re a good mess. That’s because three of the five affordable housing buildings being constructed there are up, have roofs, and work has begun on the interiors.

 

By Bill Lawyer

 

Things are kind of a mess at the corner of Edgar Place and Cottage Street – but they’re a good mess. That’s because three of the five affordable housing buildings being constructed there are up, have roofs, and work has begun on the interiors.

Developer Lou Larizza is particularly pleased with the progress so far, given that work only began at the beginning of August, and 28 inches of rain fell during August and September.

While work is moving quickly now, the project itself started off slowly.  Larizza first made a proposal presentation to the City of Rye back in 2007.  After long negotiations and many changes, in 2009 the City approved a project that would create a 22-unit condominium complex, 18 of which would be available to seniors with household incomes at 80% of the County median income.

 

Unfortunately, the project was delayed because the County would only supply the needed funding support if the units were available to eligible persons of all ages. The City and Mr. Larizza agreed to these terms, and he proceeded to negotiate with local banks to supply the “up-front” funds to get the project underway.

 

Now that the buildings are underway and the weather has improved somewhat, Mr. Larizza expects that people will be able to start moving in by mid-May of 2012. He said that the selection of owners will be handled by the Housing Division of the County’s Department of Planning. This process, he said, will begin in January.   

 

The project was designed by Mamaroneck architect Clark Neuringer. Its five buildings are laid out in a curving arrangement, with parking and a driveway running through the middle and sides. Three of the buildings will contain four units, each with a bedroom, two bathrooms, and a den. The other two buildings have one-bedroom, one bath units – one with four and the other six.

 

The units are spacious with lots of windows. The kitchens and bathroom furnishings that have been installed look sturdy if not palatial. Mr. Larizza notes that all the units will have hardwood floors and utility closets with hookups for washers and dryers.

 

In terms of their affordability, two factors come in to play. First, the three back buildings are directly adjacent to the intersection of I-95 and I-287, subjecting residents to the noise that comes with it.  

 

And, while the units are in the City of Rye, they are right on the border of Port Chester, which might make residents feel somewhat cut off from City life. They’re just down the street, however, from Port Chester Village Hall and the Senior Center.  

 

Given the huge demand for affordable housing, these would seem to be minor considerations. The one-bedroom units are priced at $150,000, and the one-bedroom, plus den units at $165,000.