The County Executive’s Corner – “County Unveils Sain Building Development Strategy”

Rockland County is at a crossroads. One path leads us to continued success and growth, while the other could bring stagnation. I’ve heard from many—seniors, young adults, business owners, and nonprofit leaders—about the growing challenge of finding affordable housing in our county.

Seniors looking to downsize can’t afford to stay in the communities they love. Young adults, fresh out of school, are taking jobs elsewhere because of high rents. Families ready to buy their first home find the market unattainable. Businesses and nonprofits are struggling to fill open positions because employees can’t afford to live here.

This is the result of a housing crisis that requires comprehensive and collaborative action from all levels of government. As a county government, we are doing our part. Earlier this year, we commissioned Pattern for Progress to conduct a Housing Needs Assessment, which laid out the facts we’ve long known: housing in Rockland is wildly unaffordable for many residents.

The assessment revealed that more than 40% of Rocklanders spend over 30% of their income on housing. With the average price of a single-family home nearing $700,000 and a median household income of $100,000, many can only qualify for mortgages up to $260,000—leaving a substantial gap.

But we’re already taking action; over the summer, with the unanimous support of the County Legislature, we launched the Housing Action Loan Opportunity program. This initiative uses $13.5 million in ARPA funds to create or preserve workforce housing. Demand is high, with over $29.7 million in requests received, and we’re diligently reviewing applications to support key projects.

It is this hurdle that brought me, alongside our County Legislature and the Town of Clarkstown, to announce a bipartisan strategy to surplus the Sain Building and see it revitalized as a commercial mixed-use development with workforce housing. In addition to creating much- needed housing for essential workers, it’s estimated to bring in nearly half a million dollars in annual property taxes for Clarkstown and the school district.

I want to reassure our residents, those who leave nearby in particular, this process will be conducted in the bright light of day and our announcement is merely the first step down a long path which will involve you – our neighbors.

This roughly 3.69-acre site is zoned to allow for up to 10 residential units per acre. Once the County Legislature declares this property surplus, we will seek Requests for Proposals that follow New City Hamlet zoning regulations, include residential workforce housing, additional public green space, and minimize traffic impacts. I want to again underscore that the selected developer must work with the Town of Clarkstown and gain Planning Board approval for anything being built at this location. Additionally, any new proposal must match the existing character of the neighborhood. The selected developer will also be engaging the local community and other stakeholders to fine tune their plans.

At this crossroads, we must choose the path that leads to smart growth.

By investing in workforce housing, we can continue our economic development and ensure that Rockland remains a place where all residents can live and thrive. I’m confident that we can and will overcome this challenge – just as we have all the others.