LI Towns Ban Open Foundations For Elevated Homes Despite Savings

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Homes built on open pilings fit in well in beach communities and can stand up to storms, but some Long Island towns and villages are banning such open foundations.

As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, lawmakers said it is an effort to help residents rebuild and create a uniform look. But the state agency that helps victims of Superstorm Sandy called the ban troubling.

To close or not to close – that was never much of question for Heather Horstmann of Lindenhurst. After flooding by Sandy, she kept the open space below her new elevated house open on pilings.

"The water can freely flow under our house," Horstmann said. "I don't know why anybody would choose the closed."

But some think the open look can be an eyesore. Municipalities across Long Island are banning it, requiring a closed foundation with water vents for a uniform look.

"It fits into the character of the neighborhood," said Suffolk County Legislator Kevin McCaffrey (R-14th). "It also protects the mechanical structure of the house; the pipes from freezing."

McCaffrey also supports open foundation bans for another reason -- to help homeowners such as Karen Vassiliou -- about to elevate her home -- until the agency NY Rising recently changed the rules, reimbursing only a fraction of the cost of a closed foundation.

"It's a wonderful program, but the rules keep changing, and as the rules keep changing, they keep paying for less and less," Vassiliou said.

By banning open foundations, Long Island lawmakers said they hope to force NY Rising -- which usually conforms to local building codes -- to pay in full.

"To give people who are trying to get every dollar that they deserve to repair and come back home as quickly as possible" is the goal, said Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer.

But NY Rising spokeswoman Barbara Brancaccio countered: "It is troubling that local legislators have openly admitted to changing ordinances to force the state to spend precious federal funds inappropriately. Localities, in the name of beautification, are only hurting their residents with this new financial burden."

Horstmann agrees an open foundation is safer.

"Why would you want to risk the possibility of damaging your house and/or your foundation again?" she said.

Many homeowners have little choice -- they have to elevate their homes to keep flood insurance affordable. So now, they are hoping NY Rising pays up for enclosed ground floors now that it is local law.

NY Rising grants have averaged over $100,000 to Long Island homeowners who live near beaches and shorelines, to elevate their homes and meet their obligations.