New bill would limit size of newly built homes in Levittown
The proposal would reduce the maximum allowable footprint from 30% of a lot to 27.5%.
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Levittown, long known as America’s first suburb and celebrated for its iconic Cape‑style homes, is undergoing a dramatic transformation. One by one, the modest houses built in the 1940s are being torn down and replaced with towering, modern constructions — a shift that has many longtime residents worried about the future character of their neighborhood.
“They’re going to change the entire landscape of Levittown,” said resident Carolyn Hakim, who has lived in her home for 17 years. A much larger house is currently being built right next door, and she says the scale of the new construction is already affecting her daily life.
“They’re just way too big,” Hakim said. “This house next door to me — it blocks my curb, my whole house. The sun sets at 3:30 p.m. in my house now.”
The Town of Hempstead is now considering new zoning restrictions aimed at curbing the size of new or rebuilt homes in the Levittown district. The proposal would reduce the maximum allowable footprint from 30% of a lot to 27.5%.
“It’s about keeping the character of the neighborhood,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti. “Keeping the suburban quality of life that our residents in the Town of Hempstead have.”
Despite the concerns, the demand for larger homes in Levittown is strong. Newly built houses are hitting the market at around $1.5 million — and selling.
Brian Gruber, the builder behind the home going up next to Hakim’s, says he’s simply responding to market forces.
“It seems like the only way to make money is to do a new build,” Gruber said. “To do a renovation — everything is so much money, there’s really very little profit.” He added that he understands why some residents are uneasy: “People living in Levittown, they don’t want a McMansion next to their house.”
Town officials say the proposed zoning changes would bring Levittown’s regulations in line with 80% of the rest of Hempstead.
