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Vol. 32 No. 3
JANUARY 16 - 22, 2025
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
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As tolls increase, more turn to LIRR By JUAN lASSo jlasso@liherald.com
Tim Baker/Herald file photo
Some Long Island Rail Road riders in Lynbrook said price increases were not warranted due to lateness of trains and unnoticeable improvements.
With New York City’s new congestion pricing system now in place, Gov. Kathy Hochul rode the rails to Syosset last week, urging city-bound Long Island commuters to leave their cars at home and embrace “world-class” public transit. On Long Island, the tolling program is expected to increase commuters’ reliance on the Long Island Rail Road. Weekday ridership climbed from about 77 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 to roughly ContInued on page 10
Young people struggle with high cost of living in Lynbrook By Ainsley Martinez amartinez@liherald.com
Jalen Coleman, a 25-year-old law student at Hofstra University, sat at Ground Central Coffee Company, on Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook, preparing for upcoming classes. Coleman lives in Brooklyn, he said, and commutes to Nassau County because he found a less expensive apartment in the city than rentals that are available near Hempstead. An analysis of current Zillow listings shows that the average rent for a one-bedroom apar tment in Lynbrook is $2,166 per month, and most
apartments are space in homes that homeowner rent out. The Langdon, a new apartment complex at 47 Broadway, is expected to open in the next couple of months, with 201 units. In 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 56 percent of Lynbrook residents ages 18 to 25 earned annual salaries of between $35,000 and $39,000, while the cost of living in Nassau County totaled nearly $58,000 a year, according to Massachusetts Institute of Technology research. In addition to rising prices, potential restrictions on how many people can live together
in Lynbrook are also a concern, Coleman said. Nassau County housing code stipulates that rooms used for sleeping provide a minimum amount of space. Typically, a room must have at least 70 square feet for one person and 50 square feet for each additional person. The re gulations apply to both single-family and multi-family dwellings, and are meant to ensure that homes remain safe and habitable for all occupants. But the requirements sometimes limit the number of people who can live together in one unit, further complicating affordability for young residents, Coleman said.
“When I lived in Connecticut, there was one point where I had eight roommates,” he said. “On Long Island, it was hard to find a place that would allow more than two or three roommates.” Coleman said he hopes to become a labor attorney, which will potentially mean a stable income and financial indepen-
dence. And, he said, “I want to also help people with these employment and pay issues through labor law.” The median Zillow Home Value Index for Lynbrook is $758,470, while nearby communities such as Hewlett Harbor and Hewlett Neck have average home values of $1.8 million or more. The numbers in areas ContInued on page 20