Southampton Town Looks At Tuckahoe Woods Property For Affordable Housing

A 14-acre parcel of Southampton Town-owned land in Tuckahoe Woods is being looked at more closely by town officials as a potential site for more affordable housing.

The property, located at the intersection of Magee Street and Sebonac Road, was obtained by the town in 1988 through eminent domain for the purpose of building affordable housing—but has sat vacant since then.

“I think it was forgotten,” Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman admitted.

Diana Weir, the town’s director of housing and community development, described the land as being comprised of wetlands and some buildable areas, and although no set plan has been developed, engineers are working to come up with a proposal.

Given the parcel’s proximity to Tuckahoe School, Mr. Schneiderman said he envisions it being a good site for housing for teachers. But he said the town likely will build only one or two units at the site.

“We’re just looking to see if there is a way to do something there that is friendly to the environment,” he said, explaining that the wetlands make developing the property a little tricky. In order to figure out what can be done on the property, he said, surveys are underway at the site.

“I’m not looking to do too much there,” Mr. Schneiderman reiterated. “If I do, it would be on a very limited basis.

“It’s the early stages, so there’s no definitive plan,” he added.

Artist Paton Miller, who lives near the property, said he was concerned that it was being surveyed for affordable housing—especially so close to the Southampton Village Police Department’s shooting range.

On top of hazards from the range, Mr. Miller said the property is located within a pristine area and should not be compromised.

“We walk there all the time, almost every day,” he said. “It’s a natural preserve. I think, even if the land was bought for low-income housing, it should be given to the town for natural preservation.”

Mr. Miller said he was not against affordable housing, and recognizes there is a need on the East End—something Mr. Schneiderman has spoken about frequently. But other properties, he said, are better suited.

“I’m firmly against it, mainly because of environmental reasons,” Mr. Miller said. “This is a gem. Why soil it?”

In an email on Monday, Ms. Weir said the number of units for the property have not been decided, but with 1,000 people on the waiting list for affordable housing, the town is hoping to one day get each person into a home.

“Every affordable unit is precious, and we will put covenants on the property so it remains affordable for the next buyer,” she said. “One by one is the way we solve the problem. We cannot let even one unit go.”