New York Completes $98m Matinecock Court Project with 145 Affordable Homes in Suffolk County

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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August 31, 2026 4:33 PM

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Matinecock Court has finally opened in New York, delivering 145 affordable homes in Suffolk County after decades of legal battles and planning delays. The nearly $98 million development in Huntington marks a major step in the state’s housing push. Moreover, Matinecock Court includes homes for veterans and people with disabilities, while its location near transport, schools and services adds practical value. The project also carries unusual historical weight because its origins stretch back to 1978 and a landmark Fair Housing Act case. Now, these 145 affordable homes offer residents a chance to build stability while New York continues tackling its housing affordability challenge.

New York has completed Matinecock Court, a nearly $98 million affordable housing development in the town of Huntington, Suffolk County. The project creates 145 limited-equity cooperative homes, providing an ownership-oriented housing option for eligible households.

The development is designed for households earning up to 80 per cent of Area Median Income (AMI). It includes one-, two- and three-bedroom homes spread across 17 two-storey residential buildings.

The completion is significant not only because of the number of homes delivered, but also because of the unusually long history behind the project.

Housing project with a landmark legal history

Matinecock Court was first proposed in 1978. Housing Help Inc. and the Huntington Branch of the NAACP backed the effort as part of a wider fight against exclusionary zoning.

The dispute eventually reached the US Supreme Court in 1988. The Court upheld a landmark Second Circuit ruling that found the Town of Huntington had violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to permit rezoning of the site, with the decision involving the development’s racially disproportionate impact.

Decades later, that legal history has culminated in an operating housing community.

Housing Help Inc. Executive Director Pilar Moya-Mancera described the project as the result of nearly half a century of persistence, with the organisation saying that the fair-housing legal legacy now lives through the 145 homes.

Supportive and accessible homes included

The development goes beyond conventional affordable housing.

Eight apartments are reserved for eligible people with developmental disabilities, while four homes are reserved for veterans. AIM Services Inc. provides support services for the supportive units.

There are also 15 homes designed to accommodate people with mobility disabilities and six homes for residents with sensory disabilities.

That makes accessibility a central part of the development rather than an additional feature. The state says the design is intended to support independent living while expanding housing access for residents with different needs.

All-electric homes add sustainability focus

Matinecock Court is also an all-electric development.

The project was designed under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Multifamily New Construction programme and New York State Homes and Community Renewal sustainability guidelines.

Features include electric heating and cooling, electric heat-pump water heaters, enhanced insulation, LED lighting, Energy Star appliances and low-flow plumbing.

Residents have access to a clubhouse, on-site parking and private outdoor patio areas. The development is also close to the Long Island Rail Road’s Northport Station, Suffolk County bus services, schools, shopping, restaurants and a library.

Nearly $98 million financing package

The development was built by D&F Development Group in partnership with Housing Help Inc.

Its financing combines public and private resources. Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits administered through HCR are expected to generate more than $36 million in equity, alongside $28 million in subsidy.

Other contributions include $1.7 million from the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, a $1 million Empire State Development Regional Council Capital Fund grant and approximately $4.2 million from Suffolk County through its Housing Opportunity and SOAR programmes.

Part of New York’s wider housing strategy

Matinecock Court forms part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which aims to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

According to the supplied state announcement, more than 87,000 affordable homes had been created or preserved to date. The FY27 Executive Budget also includes $250 million in capital funding intended to accelerate thousands of additional affordable homes.

The wider strategy includes the Pro-Housing Community Programme and reforms intended to reduce development delays and costs. More than 450 communities have been certified under the Pro-Housing programme.

Why Matinecock Court matters

Matinecock Court demonstrates how affordable housing can intersect with transport access, accessibility, sustainability and long-term community development.

Most importantly, the project shows that housing developments can take decades to reach completion when zoning, legal and financing challenges become intertwined. Its 145 homes now convert that long-running policy and legal struggle into a tangible housing resource for Suffolk County residents

Anup Kumar Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World, said:
“Matinecock Court is a powerful example of how long-term commitment can transform a difficult housing challenge into a meaningful community achievement. The completion of 145 affordable homes after decades of advocacy and legal work demonstrates the value of persistence, inclusive planning and public-private cooperation. Its accessible homes, supportive housing, transport connections and energy-efficient design make the development particularly significant. Beyond housing, Matinecock Court reflects how communities can address affordability while creating stronger foundations for inclusive growth. For Suffolk County and New York, this milestone sends an encouraging message that patient investment can ultimately deliver lasting social and economic benefits.”

The cause was a long-standing shortage of affordable and inclusive housing combined with zoning barriers that delayed Matinecock Court for decades. The answer is now visible in 145 cooperative homes serving households earning up to 80 per cent of AMI, alongside dedicated homes for veterans and residents with disabilities. The reason the project matters extends beyond its size: its history connects housing policy, fair-housing litigation, accessibility, sustainability and community development. Furthermore, its proximity to transport, schools and local services strengthens its practical appeal. Ultimately, Matinecock Court converts decades of advocacy into a functioning community and supports New York’s broader affordable housing objectives.