MONTICELLO  — In acknowledging the theme of affordable housing being discussed county-and-nation wide, District 9 County Legislator Terry Blosser-Bernardo updated the public on new housing works for the Village of Monticello Wednesday night.

She recounted the previous week’s Legislature Meeting and the update from the Sullivan County Land Bank.

It was previously reported by the Democrat that two Monticello-based projects were currently in the works. These two projects she alluded to were on the Strong and Key Bank Buildings along Broadway and the former Monticello Manor on High Street.

“Initially, we were told there would be 25 affordable housing units there and they said it is now 16,” explained Blosser-Bernardo. “That project is, I believe, scheduled to be done June of 2025.”

She made sure to mention that the Monticello Manor project would include even more housing space.

She said that she was told of the original 40 affordable housing units would be increasing to 76.

This would be a joint project and will take a little longer because of the previous reported financing coming into place.

If anyone has any questions, she encourages them to speak with the Land Bank’s Symone Quinones.

“We had a public hearing at our last meeting on a local law designating the Sullivan County Affordable Housing as a public purpose,” Blosser-Bernardo said in response to a question about the Village of Monticello’s association with the projects.

“That doesn’t really have anything to do with Monticello, but it could help Monticello. There’s many things when you make these designations ... it’s important to us and it opens you up to grants that you can receive to help people.”

Trustee Theodore Hutch-ins referred to the Key Bank and Strong Building projects and their reduction of apartment spaces. However, his concern still lies with the amount of parking and how he doesn’t think it’s “appropriate”.

“I think that’s gonna be a concern with something that has to be worked out for the amount of apartments that they have.”

He also noted that he would like to see the affordable housing extend to other locales such as Rock Hill, Callicoon and Jeffersonville.

“It seems like Monticello always seems to be the place where we put all of the affordable housing,” noted Hutchins.

“It’s beautiful in Monticello, but I think it’s beautiful in the whole of Sullivan County. I think it would be great if we could expand Monticello’s horizon and put it in some of the outskirts of Monticello as well.”