SERINO HOSTS HOUSING DEVELOPER ROUNDTABLE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES AND EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES

HYDE PARK, NY – Joined by nearly a dozen housing developers and service providers, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino kicked off her ‘Housing Listening Tour’ last month at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park to learn more about how the County can be a supportive partner in efforts to build more affordable housing to meet the growing needs of the community.

“Ensuring everyone has access to safe, affordable housing is a priority for Dutchess County, but we know we can’t do it alone,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino. “This roundtable gave us an opportunity to listen, collaborate and begin identifying solutions that meet the unique needs of our residents and communities. There's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to building affordable housing, and we know that every community is different when it comes to its housing needs.”

The roundtable was attended by representatives from numerous organizations, including the James J. Sullivan Corporation, Community Housing Innovations, RUPCO, Dakota Partners Mental Health America (MHA) Dutchess, Empyrean Fields Corporation and Hudson Todd.

Discussions centered on overcoming barriers to housing development and identifying actionable solutions to support residents and expand affordable housing options.

Key issues highlighted included:

• Land and Infrastructure Costs: Participants cited high land prices and inadequate water and sewer infrastructure as significant hurdles.
• Regulatory and Financial Barriers: Developers emphasized the need for streamlined approval processes at the local level, tax incentives and financial models that reduce pre-development risks.
• Public Perception: Stakeholders discussed the importance of educating communities about the distinctions between affordable housing, supportive housing and market-rate housing to combat stigma and garner public support.
• Workforce and Innovation: The need for workforce development and innovative construction methods was a recurring theme. The discussion included how to leverage the County’s Housing Trust Fund to support smaller developers.

“We appreciate the feedback we received from developers, which reinforced our understanding of the challenges around developing affordable housing. We look forward to continued collaboration with developers, fellow funders, and municipalities” said Commissioner of Planning & Development Eoin Wrafter.

The County plans to open a new round of funding applications through the Housing Trust Fund for affordable housing and will use feedback from the roundtable discussions to support developers and service providers.

Serino first announced the start of a ‘Housing Listening Tour’ in her 2025 Executive Budget Address in November, when she noted the County’s plan to meet with housing developers and stakeholders, major employers, municipal leaders, school superintendents and others.

“This conversation was just the beginning,” continued Serino. “We are committed to working with developers, service providers and community leaders to create practical, innovative solutions to meet the diverse housing needs across Dutchess County.”

Learn more about the County’s Housing Trust Fund.