New City, N.Y. — Rockland County has selected Regan Development Corporation and the Rockland Housing Action Coalition (RHAC) to negotiate the redevelopment of the long-vacant Sain Building property at 18 New Hempstead Road, moving forward with plans to transform the site into a mixed-use development featuring affordable housing, retail space and public open areas.
The proposal was announced by County Executive Ed Day and the Rockland County Department of Community Development following a competitive request for proposals (RFP) process that began in 2025. Before the project can proceed, the Rockland County Legislature must approve an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement between the county and the selected development team. Final project details remain subject to negotiation and additional approvals.
The approximately 3.69-acre property, located across from the Rockland County Courthouse in downtown New City, has remained vacant for years as the deteriorating six-story Sain Building continued to fall into disrepair. County officials previously determined that the structure could not be economically rehabilitated and declared the property surplus, allowing redevelopment plans to move forward.
Under the preliminary proposal, the existing Sain Building would be demolished and replaced with a three-story mixed-use building containing 48 affordable rental apartments and approximately 3,100 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The residential component would include 23 age-restricted apartments for seniors and 25 non-age-restricted affordable apartments. The development would also feature roughly 40,000 square feet of recreation and park space intended for residents and the surrounding community.
According to the county, the housing units would serve households earning between 30 percent and 80 percent of the area’s median income (AMI), a federal measure commonly used to determine eligibility for affordable housing programs. The proposal also calls for occupancy preferences for certain groups, including veterans, first responders and essential workers, and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, consistent with applicable housing regulations.
County officials said four development teams submitted proposals after the RFP was issued in June 2025. Each submission was evaluated on several criteria, including the amount of affordable housing provided, financial strength, experience with comparable projects, sustainability, proposed public amenities and overall community benefit. The county also considered each team’s history of completing similar developments.
In February, three finalists presented their concepts during a public meeting in the Rockland County Legislative Chambers. Residents living near the site and members of the public were invited to review the proposals and submit comments through an online survey. According to county officials, public feedback showed strong support for the Regan Development and RHAC proposal, with respondents citing its emphasis on green space, affordable housing and compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.
The redevelopment effort comes as Rockland County continues to address a documented shortage of affordable housing. A county housing needs assessment found that more than 40 percent of Rockland households spend at least 30 percent of their income on housing costs, a threshold commonly used to identify housing cost burdens. County leaders have launched several initiatives aimed at expanding affordable and workforce housing, including a $13.5 million loan program funded through the American Rescue Plan Act to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing.
Supporters of the project say redeveloping the property could help revitalize a highly visible location in the center of New City while providing housing opportunities for seniors, working families and other residents facing rising housing costs. During the public review process, some community members also emphasized the importance of preserving open space, managing traffic and ensuring the project complements the surrounding neighborhood. Those issues are expected to remain part of future discussions as negotiations continue.
If approved by the County Legislature, county officials and the development team will continue negotiating the project’s final design, financing and construction timeline. Additional public review and local land use approvals will also be required before redevelopment can begin.
County officials say the project represents another step in the county’s broader effort to increase affordable housing options while returning a long-vacant property to productive use. A final development agreement has not yet been completed, and the proposal may be modified as negotiations and the public review process continue.
