BINGHAMTON, NY – August 26, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Matt Ryan today joined Binghamton Housing Authority Executive Director David Tanenhaus and community partners to cut the ribbon on a new eight-unit, handicap accessible, energy efficient, affordable housing project at 4-6 Lisle Avenue. Supported by State grants, the $1.5 million project replaces a dilapidated apartment building at the site, and comes at no cost to the local taxpayer.
“This project truly has turned a liability into an asset,” said Mayor Ryan. “For too long, this property sat vacant and attracted criminal activity, and now we’ve not only removed a dilapidated building, but also added eight new units of handicap accessible, energy efficient, affordable housing. By working closely with our partners over the last several years, we’ve taken a similar approach to more than 120 properties citywide, and we’re seeing the rewards more and more.”
In spring 2009, the City used funds from its Restore NY Round II grant to demolish 4-6 Lisle Avenue’s six-unit apartment building, which for several years was vacant and received numerous police calls. Between last fall and spring of this year, Community Potential Inc., which is a non-profit subsidiary of the Binghamton Housing Authority, built the new housing project with the support of a $1.3 million grant from the NYS Homeless Housing Assistance Program and a $238,000 Housing Assistance Loan from the NYS Housing Finance Agency.
The new facility offers eight independent apartments for disabled or handicapped individuals who have been homeless, and all the units are now occupied. Among their features, all the apartments are fully wheelchair accessible and include design elements that assist those with impaired vision, including color variation on the flooring and walls.
The apartments also feature energy efficient elements such as passive solar water heaters and specialized triple-paned windows, which promise to reduce the facility’s energy costs and carbon footprint. In addition, green construction materials were used elsewhere in the building.
Brian E. Lawlor, President and CEO of “nyhomes” and Commissioner of the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal, said, “I want to congratulate Community Potential Inc. and the City of Binghamton on the opening of this wonderful facility that will provide housing for the chronically homeless and disabled. The Housing Finance Agency was pleased to work with the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the New York State Homeless Housing Assistance Corporation to fund “green” enhancements that will help this project save money and protect the environment. These are the kind of efficiencies that we are now achieving at “nyhomes” and DHCR as we continue the integration of our two agencies.”
David Tanenhaus, Executive Director of the Binghamton Housing Authority, said, “We’ve replaced a crumbling apartment building with a brand new, comfortable and affordable home for disabled or handicapped individuals with a history of homelessness, some of whom were displaced by the 2006 floods. Community Potential, Inc. and the Binghamton Housing Authority, in partnership with the City of Binghamton, New York State Homeless Housing Assistance Corporation and the New York State Finance Agency are pleased to welcome you to celebrate the opening of this much needed, fully-occupied housing resource.”
Lea Webb, Councilwoman for District 4 (Downtown and North Side), said, “This is another example of the City partnering with local and State organizations to remove blight and improve neighborhood safety at little or no cost to the local taxpayer. By continuing this approach, we’ll continue revitalizing the fourth district and our city as a whole.”
Started in 2007, the City of Binghamton’s Restore NY Program has targeted more than 120 blighted properties for redevelopment at little to no cost to the local taxpayer. Click here for more on this program.
Contacts:
Andrew Block, Director of Community Relations, (607) 772-7001,
awblock (at) cityofbinghamton (dot) com , www.cityofbinghamton.com
