WHERE DO WE GROW FROM HERE?

LAND USE ON LONG ISLAND

 

Study Reveals Long Islanders View Affordable Housing and Ever-Shrinking Open Space As Extremely Serious Problems for the Region

[To view a detailed report go to www.longislandindex.org]

GARDEN CITY, NY (January 27, 2005) – Seventy-four percent of Long Islanders view the lack of affordable housing as one of the most serious problems facing the region, according to a survey of 805 Long Island residents commissioned by the Rauch foundation and conducted by the Stony Brook University Center for Survey Research The survey, conducted in July and August 2004, is titled “Where Do We Grow From Here? Land Use On Long Island”, and focuses on regional attitudes toward severe housing problems, support for affordable housing policies and open space preservation. 

According to the Survey Center’s Director, Dr. Leonie Huddy: “Three themes emerged from the report. The first is residents’ overwhelming concern with the housing problems on Long Island. The lack of affordable housing and increasing taxes are seen as extremely serious problems by most residents. The second theme reflects the level of support of Long Islanders toward specific policy proposals designed to lower the cost of housing while the third theme is the very high level of support residents have for preservation of the Island’s remaining open space.”

Key findings of the survey include the following:

THE HOUSING CRISIS

  • A Big Concern: Housing affordability is a major problem, most Long Islanders say – and by larger margins than the residents of the other New York City suburbs.
  • Who Owns Homes: Most Long Islanders own their homes – but the exceptions are minority, lower income and younger residents.
  • A Heavy Load: Almost half of Long Islanders report paying housing costs of over 30% of their incomes. A growing number report having difficulty meeting monthly rent or mortgage.
  • The Potential Exodus: Most Long Islanders worry that the high housing costs will drive an increasing number of young adults from Long Island.
  • Thinking of Leaving: A majority of Long Islanders are concerned that family members, or they themselves, may have to leave the area because of housing costs and taxes. Almost two-thirds of Long Island residents have thought of moving to a region with lower housing costs and property taxes. A majority of 18-34 year olds and a near majority of 50-64 year olds say they are likely to do just that in the next five years.

SUPPORT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

  • Action Supported: A majority of Long Islanders support action to increase middle class and starter housing, despite the tradeoffs it may involve.
  • Pros and Cons: Residents think affordable housing will help retain young people and seniors, but worry it will increase traffic, raise taxes, and burden schools.
  • Proposals Enjoy Support: Support by Long Islanders is strongest for proposals to develop more affordable housing on former business or government sites and through set-asides in new developments. A majority of residents also support proposals to raise density in downtowns near public transportation, and provide more rental apartments in homes and semi-attached or town houses.

PRESERVING OPEN SPACE

  • Keep it Open: Long Islanders are very concerned about open space preservation and overdevelopment.
  • Willing to pay: Most Long Islanders favor government purchasing open space for preservation and a majority is ready to pay higher taxes for this purpose.

The objective of this survey, coupled with the 2005 Long Island Index, is to provide an innovative focus for future action on the important issues facing Long Island. The findings of the report confirm that Long Island faces serious and complex challenges that will affect the area’s quality of life now and in the future. Dealing with the concerns for more affordable housing and preservation of open space as one issue is extremely critical to the existence of vibrant, livable communities and economic growth of the region. Long Islanders must work and plan together in new ways for the future in order to maintain the quality of life that has become the trademark of Long Island and preserve it for generations to come.

A random sample of 1400 residents of Long Island, New Jersey and Northern suburbs of New York and Connecticut were interviewed by telephone giving an error margin of + or – 2.5%. An oversample of 200 African-Americans and 100 Latinos was also called to enable more detailed analysis of opinion in those groups.

 

About the Rauch Foundation: “Where Do We Grow From Here? Land Use on Long Island” is funded by the Rauch Foundation, a family foundation headquartered in Garden City, New York.





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