Home > News
Town of North Hempstead Holds Lottery for New Cassel Affordable Housing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2013
MEDIA CONTACTS: Collin Nash, Ryan Mulholland, & Sam Marksheid | (516) 869-7794

Town of North Hempstead Holds Lottery for New Cassel Affordable Housing 

New Cassel, NY
–Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board proudly announced that scores of area residents joined local elected officials Monday at a lottery drawing for three dozen affordable rental units in the soon-to-be-completed Cathedral Place Apartments, part of a massive revitalization plan to improve New Cassel’s commercial corridor.

The three-story apartment complex, located on Prospect Avenue, was jointly initiated by the Town and the North Hempstead Community Development Agency. It was developed through a public/private sector collaboration consisting of Conifer Realty, Community Development Corporation of Long Island (CDCLI), Nassau County and New York State who secured over $2 million in funding. An official ribbon cutting is scheduled for late fall.

The August 5th lottery drawing at the North Hempstead “Yes We Can” Community Center was marketed by the United New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation (UNCCRC) a New Cassel-based civic group which has facilitated the hamlet’s revitalization and sustainable development.

“Thanks to collaborative efforts between the Town, the County, and the private sector, we are one step closer to achieving the shared vision New Cassel residents envisioned for this community,” said Supervisor Jon Kaiman. “This project is part of the ongoing revitalization of New Cassel and a welcome addition to the mix of affordable multi-use structures that makes this area a desirable place to live.”

The drawing was attended by more than 100 people in addition to a number of area elected officials. The availability of these 36 units attracted 355 applicants whose names were randomly drawn and numbered in the order in which their applications will be evaluated.

The apartment complex offers amenities such as a fitness center and laundry facility, on-site management and leasing office, features a mix of 18 one-bedroom units, 14 two-bedroom units and 4 three-bedroom units.

“Today is yet another great day in this community,” said North Hempstead Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell, whose district encompasses the New Cassel area. “The completion of project is truly is a national model for how governments on all levels can collaborate with the private sector and the local community to help improve the quality of life for residents.”

The collaborative effort is noteworthy, officials said, in that it that the entire process, from selecting a builder through the competitive bidding process and the lottery took just two years. The groundbreaking on the project was conducted by Conifer Realty and CDCLI one year ago.

“I am truly impressed at how fast it all happened, and that would not have been the case if it weren’t for the partnership between federal, state and local government, private partners and the community,” said Marianne Garvin, President & CEO of CDCLI. “We are pleased to be a part of the revitalization of the New Cassel community through the development of much-needed affordable housing,”

Nassau County Legislator Robert Troiano, who also represents the area and is a former Town Councilman in North Hempstead, said, “I am very proud to be part of the ongoing efforts to rejuvenate the community and improve the quality of life of New Cassel residents as a whole.”

Pointing to Long Island’s shortage of affordable housing, New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine said the three dozen Cathedral Place apartment units won’t solve the crisis but “we’ve got to start some place. The community of New Cassel has come a very long way,” he said, “and I am confident it will not stop here.”

State Senator Jack Martins said, "This is a great project filling a real need in a great community! I was happy to help secure the $2.1 Million that made this project a reality and look forward to partnering with the shareholders in New Cassel and the Town on similar projects in the future."

Other officials who attended the event include Bishop Lionel Harvey of the UNCCRC, Nassau County Director of Housing and Community Development John Sarcone, and Dermot Kelly, Executive Director of the Town of North Hempstead Community Development Agency.


From left, Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Kennetha Pettus of the UNCCRC, New York State Senator Jack Martins, Alan Handelman of Conifer Realty, Bishop Lionel Harvey of the UNCCRC, Marianne Garvin, President of CDC Long Island, Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Executive Director of the North Hempstead CDA Dermot Kelly, Serena Miller of Conifer Realty, Mark Busgang of the New York State Homes and Community Renewal, and John Sarcone, Director of the Nassau County Office of Community Development.


Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell picks a random winner during the Housing Lottery.

View Archives