Home Grants Governor Paterson, Mayor Duffy and Local Leaders Announce Sustainable Neighborhoods Grant Funds

Governor Paterson, Mayor Duffy and Local Leaders Announce Sustainable Neighborhoods Grant Funds

Albany, NY – September 28, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor David A. Paterson today joined Mayor Bob Duffy, Senator Joe Robach, Assemblyman David Gantt, Commissioner/CEO of the recently integrated housing agency NY State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Brian Lawlor, Rochester Manager of Housing Carol Wheeler, and Executive Director of the Greater Rochester Housing Partnership Jean Lowe, to unveil a $495,000 Sustainable Neighborhoods Demonstration Program award to revitalize the 100 block of Weld Street, the center of the Marketveiw Heights Focused Investment Strategy area. The initiative uses existing program resources in innovative ways to turn vacant and abandoned buildings, blight, and distressed properties into quality affordable homes for owners and renters.

“The program creates affordable housing opportunities, turns blight into beauty, and makes neighborhoods better, safer places to live,” Governor Paterson said. “Mayor Duffy has made housing and neighborhood renewal a priority of his administration and has made a considerable investment in and commitment to revitalizing Marketview Heights. I want to thank the Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, the City of Rochester, and all of the partners that have come together to make this innovative project a reality.”

“I’d like to thank Governor Paterson for creating a program that supports neighborhood development that is already underway,” Mayor Robert J. Duffy said. “Marketview Heights is one of the key neighborhoods in our Focused Investment Strategy initiative. The funds that will be provided by the Sustainable Neighborhoods Demonstration Program will help transform this area into one of great potential and prosperity by providing additional home ownership opportunities. It’s a win-win all around.”

The award was made through HCR to the Greater Rochester Housing Partnership (GRHP) and will continue the extensive community development of Marketview Heights. Funds will be used to renovate and construct five single-family homes affordable to families at or below 90 percent of area median income. Three of the homes are vacant eyesores that will be acquired from the City of Rochester and completely rehabilitate, and two will be newly constructed homes on vacant lots.

Brian Lawlor, Commissioner/CEO of HCR said: “I want to thank Governor Paterson, Mayor Duffy, Jean Lowe of Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, and all the partners that have invested in this effort. It is strong partners like these-people at every level committed to rebuilding neighborhoods and communities-that are essential to the success of New York’s housing and community renewal programs. That’s why strengthening existing partnerships and cultivating new ones is an important goal of the new New York State Homes and Community Renewal, and a pillar of new business model. This project is a solid example of that business model at work and of HCR’s investment strategy, which focuses on fundamentals, leverage, and outcomes to achieve maximum results.”

Homebuyers will receive pre- and post-purchase counseling at no charge through NeighborWorks Rochester, and the City of Rochester will assist with closing costs, income certification, underwriting of homebuyer, and no-charge counseling. Nothangle Realtors will provide realty services for 6 percent of property sales prices.

The rehabilitation and construction of the Weld Street homes will focus on maximizing green features for energy-efficiency, water-use reduction, insulation, and other green building enhancements. Additionally properties will feature high efficiency furnaces and hot water heaters; new or replacement vinyl windows; low-flow showerheads and faucets, as well as low emission carpets, paints and sealants.

The City of Buffalo, with more than 23,000 vacant housing units, was the starting point for the Sustainable Neighborhoods project, which is expanding across the State.

Agencies involved in the Sustainable Neighborhoods program include HCR, the Housing Finance Agency, the Empire State Development Corporation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Department of Transportation, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of State, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The following statements were provided in support of the Sustainable Neighborhoods Demonstration Program award:

Senator Joe Robach said: “These resources will go a long way to investing not only in quality housing, but bolstering our urban core assisting our city neighborhoods, not only assisting those individuals, but help strengthen our downtown revitalization efforts.”

Assemblyman David F. Gantt said: “Lead safe, affordable homes are essential to the revitalization of challenged neighborhoods. I am delighted to join with Governor Paterson as he pledges to bring quality homes to one of the most impoverished areas in our city.”

Assemblyman David Koon said: “The health of our community rests on the health of all of our neighborhoods. While the Governor’s Sustainable Neighborhoods Project will not directly affect neighborhoods in my district, it will have a significant impact in Rochester. And healthier neighborhoods in Rochester will mean a better and safer community overall. I applaud the Governor for recognizing the importance of cleaning up the urban blight that is plaguing upstate New York, and for giving our cities and neighborhoods a fighting chance at turning themselves around.”

Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle said: “This sort of investment in neighborhood restoration is consistent with the outstanding work Mayor Duffy and others have been doing in terms of rebuilding the city’s housing stock and reversing our long trend of population loss. It is precisely the commitment of resources we need, even in difficult times, to spark the rebirth of our upstate cities and to achieve long-term recovery, and I’m grateful to Governor Paterson for his leadership on this issue.”