Workforce housing now at Garvies Point

For many, the high cost of living has made the American dream of home ownership out of reach. Rent prices have dramatically increased in recent years, leaving renters to decide between groceries, rent and childcare. But now, Glen Cove has made it easier for those looking for affordable options and is sweetening the pot with access to the resort-style neighborhood at Garvies Point.
First pitched in 2002, the redevelopment of 56 acres at Garvies Point has gone through changes in developers, a drawn-out environmental cleanup, a housing market crash and a few lawsuits that collectively delayed the massive project along the way.
Backlash against the development at Garvies Point began in 2016, and in 2019, a state appeals court ruled against the Village of Sea Cliff and a group of 100 Glen Cove and Sea Cliff residents who sued to halt construction of the luxury development.
The Garvies Point Waterfront development took decades to get to this point, but once the construction started, it did not take long to see the transformation. Buildings rose, the landscape improved, and the waterfront is now usable.
The Green at Garvies Point, developed by Georgica Green Ventures, LLC consists of two newly constructed four-story buildings containing a total of four studio apartments, 16 one-bedroom apartments, 29 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom units. The development is part of the city’s effort to revitalize its underutilized waterfront through the creation of new housing, retail, and recreational space that were built as part of the wider revitalization effort. The $32.3 million was included in the $1 billion master plan by Uniondale developer RXR to add 1,100 market-rate apartments and condos in the coming years along the Garvies Point waterfront.

The new affordable apartments, which are built next to market-rate apartments on Dickson Street, sit on a former industrial site that now has walking trails, a kayak launch and two dog parks. Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, who grew up near the development, said she was happy to see the area transform.
“I did not know that I lived on a toxic waste site,” Panzenbeck said. “I want to thank you for making this beautiful opportunity for people to live here. Can you imagine, Anyone can walk down along the esplanade. It doesn’t matter where you came from, you’re able to live here now.”
In the last five years, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has created or preserved 1,200 affordable homes on Long Island. The Green at Garvies Point continues this effort and complements Governor Kathy Hochul’s $25 billion comprehensive housing plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.
“Through this development, we’re creating more affordable, safe housing for New Yorkers on Long Island,” Hochul said. “The completion of The Green at Garvies Point not only ensures that dozens of New Yorkers will have a modern, energy-efficient place to call home, but it supports the transformation of Glen Cove’s underutilized waterfront, bringing much-needed workforce housing to Nassau County.
Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said she’s hopeful the development can serve as a blueprint for future efforts to diversify and expand local housing options.
“As a mother of three young adult daughters, the question I keep hearing is: ‘What are we doing to create more housing options for young people?” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I am proud to say that this project in Glen Cove is a perfect example of how we can go about addressing this crucial regional issue.”
The Green at Garvies Point was funded with $13.4 million in federal low-income housing tax credits, $7.7 million in state Homes and Community Renewal funding, $900,000 in Nassau County HUD funding, IDA assistance and other bank financing. The complex was designed and constructed to be energy-efficient and meets the criteria for Enterprise Green Communities and U.S. Green Building Council LEED Silver Certification. Residential amenities include a gymnasium, a children’s playroom, communal spaces, bike storage, laundry facilities, and on-site parking.
“These efforts will help address the outward migration crisis we face with our seniors and young adults here on Long Island,” Councilwoman Marsha Silverman said. “This project is an illustration of state and local government partnering with the private sector to facilitate critically needed affordable housing.”