Affordable senior housing complex Medford Gardens opens after receiving 560 lottery applicants
Medford Gardens, a 67-unit affordable senior housing development in Medford, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. Credit: NYS Homes and Community Renewal
All but two units at a newly completed affordable and supportive senior housing apartment complex in Medford have been leased, according to the nonprofit developers behind the project.
Medford Gardens, a $40 million complex built by the nonprofit WellLife Network, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday attended by community leaders and elected officials. The three-story, 67-unit housing project is geared toward providing affordable rental options for low-income seniors and older Long Islanders who have experienced homelessness or mental health issues.
One-bedroom units at Medford Gardens range from $975 for residents with lower incomes to $1,460 for those at the top of the eligible income range, which is set at 60% of Long Island’s area median income.
“There is such a demand and such a need” for affordable housing, Sherry Tucker, CEO of New Hyde Park-based WellLife, said following Thursday’s ribbon cutting. WellLife offers services to those with behavioral health conditions, developmental disabilities and those with substance abuse issues on Long Island and in New York City.
Rents include heat, electricity, hot water and Wi-Fi, and the building has an elevator, outdoor patio area, exercise room and laundry facilities, according to New York State Homes and Community Renewal, the state’s affordable housing agency.
“Not only does Medford Gardens offer older residents a place to live, it also provides them with support services and amenities that foster a sense of community and connection,” RuthAnne Visnauskas, commissioner of state Homes and Community Renewal, said in a statement.
Construction on the complex, at 3161 Horseblock Rd., began in April 2025.
New York State tax credit and grant programs helped fund most of the project’s cost, with WellLife raising $19 million from federal and state low-income housing tax credit programs, $7.9 million from the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program and $6.7 million from the state's Supportive Housing Opportunity Program.
“This administration is prioritizing housing affordability for all — that includes older New Yorkers who may live on fixed incomes,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement about the project. “We are grateful to all our partners for sharing our vision on addressing the housing crisis on Long Island and across the state.”
The development, which made 33 units available for low-income Long Islanders 55 and older via a lottery system, received 560 lottery applicants this summer, Tucker said. The remaining units — with the exception of one set aside for a building superintendent — are intended for the formerly homeless and those with mental health issues.
Tenants at Medford Gardens must earn a minimum of $39,000 and a single person can have a maximum income of $69,300, according to program guidelines. The maximum income for a couple is $79,200.
