A group of local civic and business leaders known as the Long Island Index says plans to redevelop the area surrounding the Nassau Coliseum are an exciting first step but don't go far enough to help Long Island residents. 

The group says more workforce housing is needed and that the planned Hub redevelopment is the perfect place for it. They are calling for 1,000 new housing units to be built above retail stores. 

The thought of new housing, even if it's affordable, in what is a congested area of Nassau County is a hard sell to many.

"I think it's a bad idea because of the congestion. At 5 p.m., you can't get down the turnpike now," says John Cates, of Seaford. "So what's it going to accomplish but more congestion?"

Tina Miller, also of Seaford, is heading off to her freshman year at college and would like to be able to afford to live in her hometown one day.

"Potentially I'd like to live on Long Island, but I don't know, the property taxes are through the roof," she says. 

Jack Martins, the Republican candidate for Nassau County executive, told News 12 that he believes the construction of affordable housing is "incredibly important." Laura Curran, one of the candidates on the Democratic side, agreed and said affordable housing should be part of the development plan.

A spokesperson for County Executive Ed Mangano says while there are agreements in place for certain development projects around the Coliseum, overall plans are still "fluid" and that more things could be added.