Community Corner
'Severe Housing Crisis' Spotlighted By North Fork Environmental Council Panel Friday At Peconic Landing
The panel "Rising Rents, Rising Tides" will tackle the North Fork's escalating affordable housing crisis, organizers say.
NORTH FORK, NY — As the affordable housing crisis escalates across the North Fork, a new panel, "Rising Rents, Rising Tides," hosted by the North Fork Environmental Council at Peconic Landing in Greenport Friday will weigh sustainable solutions.
The panel takes place on Friday, April 17, at 3 p.m. at Peconic Landing, located at 1500 Brecknock Road in Greenport.
According to the NFEC, the question raised will be, "How can the North Fork solve its severe housing crisis while also preserving our unique environment?"
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The stakes couldn’t be higher, the NFEC added, stating that the average home prices in Southold Town have hit $1 million.
"Some residents repeatedly block affordable housing proposals over NIMBY" — or "not-in-my-backyard" —"concerns," the NFEC said. "There are over 1000 short-term rentals, which has exacerbated the affordable housing crisis. The lack of affordable housing is reshaping our economy as small businesses lose year-round employees and customers alike."
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From an environmental perspective, the NFEC said: "The Peconic Estuary is reeling from severe nitrogen pollution to devastating shellfish die-offs. There is a growing push to bring in water from up island as the aquifer is pushed to its limits. Climate change and rising sea levels are the elephant in the room."
And, the NFEC said: "While New York State Governor Kathy Hochul pushes to streamline New York’s landmark environmental review law, SEQRA, to build more housing, environmental groups argue it risks destroying our environment."
The panel will grapple with the challenges by asking a series of questions, the NFEC said, including:
- Can we build housing for everyone who wants to live here, and if so, what would we need to do?
- Are Governor Hochul’s reforms to SEQRA justified?
- What role does expanding transit play in both affordable housing and environmental conservation?
- And is the main problem too many people, or a few people consuming too much?
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