NY Rising headaches

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Q. I live in Oceanside and am currently in what’s commonly referred to as NY Rising “limbo.” We’ve been given an estimate of what the program determines cost would be to raise our house to 4 feet above grade, as opposed to what we are now, likely about 1 foot above grade: They estimate about $66,000. Our property is within the 100-year flood plain, and we live in a one-floor ranch on a poured concrete foundation. Given the state of the NY Rising program in its evolutionary process, does a number like this seem outrageously low, speaking very generally on the financial commitment to raising a house?

Also, given the program’s policies regarding paying architects/engineers for work phases completed, do you believe that homeowners who seek assistance from NY Rising to elevate whose homes have not been “substantially damaged,” and who are not currently seeking ICC funding, are cruising for a whole lot more short-term heartache than it’s worth? A part of me wants to seriously consider elevation with respect for future flood insurance cost increases and the state of our foundation to begin with when the home was constructed in 1952, but I’m fearful that the process can legitimately take months.

A. Yes. I’ve been involved with New York Rising-eligible homeowners for months and have seen the evolution, if you can call it that, of the program. As it has changed, I recently (April 18) had the chance to meet with a representative and my client, together, only to finally hear more than reassurances of how much my client could be “eligible” for. The manager explained that the program is designed to be, in his words, “HUD standard” housing, no more, no less.

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