Affordable housing units in a Melville development remained empty Friday, months after they were scheduled for completion.

The Town of Huntington worked with the Long Island Developmental Center site developer to ensure affordable housing was a part of the project. About 100 affordable homes at the Greens at Half Hollow were supposed to be constructed first, before the 1,300 market-rate houses were sold.

That didn't happen, said Ken Christensen of the Huntington Housing Coalition. All the market-price houses, which cost at least $400,000 each, are filled, he said.

"I don't want to call the town stupid," Christensen said. "I think administratively they were lax."

When the developer moved to increase the price of the affordable homes from $120,000 to $140,000, the town tried to put its foot down and filed lawsuits. Those suits ended up stopping construction.

Town of Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone said, "We are aggressively pursuing a meaningful negotiation with the builder and are hopeful for a positive outcome."

A date for the judge's decision has not been set. Until that time, the affordable units can't be sold.

The developer of Greens at Half Hollow declined comment for this story.

Related Information: New affordable housing bill heads to Levy's desk