Construction Begins on 35-Unit Senior Citizen Development in South Buffalo

August 18, 2010

by DHCR

Category: News || Housing & Development | No Comments

Albany, NY – August 18, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Buffalo Regional Office Director, Tom VanNortwick, was on hand recently to help break ground on Holy Family Senior Apartments in South Buffalo. The three-story building, which was once a Catholic elementary school, will be rehabilitated and transformed into 35 affordable, energy-efficient apartments for low and moderate-income seniors and frail elderly.

Tom VanNortwick thanked all of the partners who've come together to make Holy Family Senior Apartments possible Funding is provided in part by $4.9 million in equity derived from the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program administered through the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), $2.1 million through the NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation, and $200,000 from the DHCR’s Urban Initiatives Program. Additional funding is provided by the City of Buffalo HOME Program, Federal Home Loan Bank, and Deferred Developer Fees.

Brian Lawlor, commissioner of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal and president/CEO of nyhomes, said, “It takes a variety of resources and strong partnerships to create and preserve affordable housing, and several of the state’s programs were called upon to help finance Holy Family Senior Apartments. Now, with the recent integration of New York’s main housing agencies, all of the State’s programs will join under one roof and make it easier and more efficient to continue to address housing and community revitalization needs across the state. I commend the Diocese of Buffalo, Delta Development and Living Communities for their efforts to preserve local history and create a safe, quality place for seniors to call home. And I thank CPC, the city of Buffalo, and all the partners who helped make this development possible.”

Apartments will meet the requirements of DHCR’s Green Building Initiative and will be equipped with Energy Star rated appliances, light fixtures and heating systems. Amenities include an outdoor patio, discount broadband internet service, and a computer lab. The South Buffalo Food Pantry, operated by Catholic Charities of Buffalo, will be housed at the complex and will provide support services to residents.

The project is sponsored by the Diocese of Buffalo and developed by Delta Development of WNY, Inc. and Living Communities LLC. Christa Construction serves as general contractor, Silvestri Architects as architect, and Delta Development of WNY, Inc. as management agent. Apartments will be affordable to 24 households with incomes at or below 50% of the area median income and 11 households with incomes at or below 60% of the area median income. In addition, six units will serve the frail elderly.