The East Hampton Housing Authority’s affordable housing project the Green at Gardiner’s Point is on its way to clearing the last few hurdles before its first tenants can officially move in.
The construction side of the project, overseen by Georgica Green Ventures, is awaiting approvals from both the Suffolk County Health Department and East Hampton Town Building Department.
According to Walter Beal, vice president for construction at Georgica Green, a final inspection from the Health Department was scheduled for yesterday, a prerequisite for requesting a Building Department inspection, “which we expect to request in a matter of days,” Mr. Beal said by email on Tuesday.
Additionally, the East Hampton Fire Department held a drill near the project last week, accommodated by Georgica Green Ventures, when “they tested new apparatus and familiarized themselves with the site,” he said, clarifying that “it was not an inspection. The [town] fire marshal’s inspections have already occurred.”
David Browne, the East Hampton Town fire marshal, said that the firefighters identified a lack of water pressure on site. “When they didn’t get the pressure, they sought out another source of water,” Mr. Browne said, noting that this is standard procedure for the department. “This is why we do the drills,” he said, indicating confidence that the issue could be addressed before tenants moved in, stressing that “the units are well vetted and well inspected.” He also noted that the buildings have sprinklers inside “from top to bottom.”
On Aug. 2 the East Hampton Housing Authority randomly sorted 543 applicants onto a waitlist for the units in a lottery that determines the order in which the applicants will be vetted. The protocol from there is a vetting of their applications to ensure they meet the criteria for the housing project. Out of the over 500 who applied, only 50 will have the opportunity to live in an apartment at the Green at Gardiner’s Point. According to Katy Casey, the executive director of the East Hampton Housing Authority, “10 out of 50 have been identified, but nobody is leased up yet.”
“Folks are anxious,” Ms. Casey added, “the lottery was six weeks ago, but in the best circumstances it takes six weeks to vet a file.”
During the vetting process many factors have to be confirmed including identity, household composition, and income, as applicants must earn below $156,200 the median income calculated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “We’re all working as quickly and diligently as possible,” Ms. Casey said, noting the work being done by both the housing authority and Georgica Green Ventures. “We’re all on one team, and we’re all working towards the same goal.”
