Lackawanna planning board backs application for state "Move in New York" starter-home pilot

The Lackawanna Planning Board voted on Nov. 19 to recommend that the city apply for the state’s Move in New York pilot, a competitive $50 million program that subsidizes factory-built “cross-mod” homes for municipalities that serve higher shares of low- to moderate-income households.

Chuck Clark of the Department of Development described the program as a subsidy-based homeownership model: "They are giving $75,000 subsidies to qualified borrowers," he said, and added that the pilot caps construction and land costs at $250,000. Clark said the cross-mod houses range from roughly 1,000 to 1,800 square feet and can be ready in about six months under the state’s pilot testing.

Clark told the board the homes would be taxable, sold to qualified owner-occupants and would require buyers to meet conventional lending standards. He also said the program includes a 10-year recapture schedule: owners who sell early would owe a proportionate portion of the subsidy back to the program. "These are taxable homes. These are not nonprofit homes," Clark said.

Board members pressed staff for details during a lengthy question-and-answer period. Mona Abdullah asked whether the $75,000 subsidy would apply if the mortgage amount were lower; Clark confirmed the subsidy applies regardless of the mortgage remainder and that buyers still must qualify for traditional mortgage underwriting. Clark said the county is helping with marketing and that the application window opened Nov. 15 and runs on a rolling basis through Jan. 2026.

The board’s recommendation is advisory; the city council will review the plan at a Dec. 1 work session and may adopt a resolution before any lots are conveyed. Clark said that if the city is selected, the Lackawanna Housing Development Corporation (LHDC) would hold site control and lots would be conveyed to LHDC for $1 only after program approval and an identified qualified buyer.