7.6.22 - Governor Hochul Announces $104 Million Awarded To 16 Developments Across New York To Provide 864 Affordable Homes
' Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $104 million has been awarded to create or preserve 864 affordable homes in 16 separate developments across New York. The funding announced today will further local economic development initiatives, expand the housing supply in every region, fight homelessness with supportive services for vulnerable populations, and help close the digital divide for lower-income households. The developments will also advance the State's ambitious goal to achieve an 85 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
"The $104 million in awards announced today will expand access to affordable housing and opportunity for families, seniors, and vulnerable residents across New York," Governor Hochul said. "Expanding the housing supply is the cornerstone of my $25 billion, five-year housing plan, and today's awards will move us one step closer toward achieving our goal of making New York a more affordable place for all. With sustainable designs, on-site supportive services, and expanded access to free or low-cost broadband internet, we're not just building homes with these awards; we're creating vibrant, more enduring communities."
The awards are part of Governor Hochul's $25 billion, five-year comprehensive Statewide housing plan that will make housing more affordable, equitable, and stable. The Governor's plan will increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.
The awards announced today are provided through New York State Homes and Community Renewal's Multifamily Finance RFP, a competitive process used to award Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and subsidy financing for affordable and supportive multifamily housing developments. Coupled with the State's investment, the 16 awarded developments will unlock a total of $371 million into local economies by leveraging an additional $267 million in public and private sources.
All 16 projects are required to meet green building standards as part of Homes and Community Renewal's efforts to achieve the goals set by the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The CLCPA, the most ambitious climate and energy plan in the nation, requires an 85 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050 and eventually net zero emissions across all sectors of the economy. Six of the awarded developments are supported by grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to achieve a higher level of energy efficiency. Seven are designed to a high efficiency and carbon free standard with plans to apply for NYSERDA or clean energy funding based on third-party energy management contracts in place at the time of the award.
Thirteen of the developments, with a total of 705 homes, will be in all-electric buildings. In her State of the State address earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced a plan to achieve a minimum of one million electrified homes and up to one million electrification-ready homes by 2030, including more than 800,000 low- to moderate-income households receiving upgrades.
In addition, these developments will provide free or low-cost broadband services to residents as part of the State's efforts to close the digital divide for lower-income New Yorkers.
Six of the projects will benefit from $23 million in coordinated funding from the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which has been awarded to aid in the development of supportive housing.
The awards announced by the Governor today include:
Capital Region
$7.3 million for The Riverview Apartments in the village of Corinth, Saratoga County. The development will create 60 affordable apartments with 30 reserved for formerly homeless individuals with mental health illnesses and who will have access to rental subsidies and on-site supportive services funded through an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award. The developer is RISE Housing and Support Services, Inc.
$6 million for Elmer Gardens in the city of Schenectady's Eastern Avenue neighborhood. Developed by Home Leasing and Better Community Neighborhoods, Inc., the project will convert the historic Elmer Avenue School into 51 apartments for adults aged 55 and older. Twenty-six homes will be reserved for seniors in need of supportive services to live independently. These units will be funded through an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award.
Central New York
$5.5 million for the Wheat Street Apartments in the village of Cayuga, Cayuga County. The mixed-income development will offer 47 apartments, including nine homes reserved for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. With support from the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, and the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, these residents will have access to on-site services provided by the E. John Gavras Center. The development is designated as a Housing Opportunity Project, as it is located in a well-resourced area with a high-performing school district. The project's developer is Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
$5.3 million for Community View Apartments in the village of Morrisville, Madison County. The senior housing development will feature 61 apartments, including 20 for seniors experiencing homelessness. With funding from an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award and the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, residents will have access to on-site supportive services provided by the Crouse Community Center. The developer is Christopher Community, Inc.
Finger Lakes
$10.7 million for the Baird Road Senior Apartments in the town of Perinton, Monroe County. This new construction project will feature 76 affordable apartments for seniors 62 and older, including 38 with supportive services from Rochester General funded through an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award. NYSERDA awarded the development $1 million from the Buildings of Excellence program for the building's net-zero and passive house design, which includes rooftop solar panels, air source heat pumps, shared heat-pump water heaters and low-carbon materials. The developer is Pathstone Development Corporation.
$1.1 million for School House Manor in the village of Oakfield in Genesee County. School House Manor is an existing senior housing facility converted from a historic school building through the USDA Rural Development Section 515 Program. The project will repair structural issues in the building, preserve affordability for existing and future tenants, enhance energy-efficiency and convert underutilized space into an additional eight apartments. The developer is ODS Management, Inc.
Long Island
$3.1 million for Baldwin Commons in the hamlet of Baldwin in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County. The development will include 33 newly constructed homes in the heart of the hamlet of Baldwin and within a quarter mile of the Long Island Railroad station. The transit- and workforce-oriented development is supported by a grant from Baldwin's $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award, a Statewide initiative that is helping to create more vibrant and walkable downtowns across the State. The developer is Park Grove Development, LLC.
Mid-Hudson
$3 million for 41-51 Maple in the village of Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester County. The project will feature 33 apartments across two buildings targeting a wide range of incomes. Regan Development Corporation was selected as the designated developer of the village-owned property. The development consists primarily of two- and three-bedroom units and is in a well-resourced community with a high-performing school district. '