Ithaca, NY – October 4, 2008 – (RealEstateRama) — Commissioner VanAmerongen joined state and local officials in Ithaca to celebrate the opening of an affordable senior housing complex and a beautiful new supportive housing facility. While in Ithaca, she also toured public housing which is undergoing extensive energy efficiency improvements through DHCR’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).
The Commissioner was joined by a number of officials, including Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, State Senator George Winner, Office of Mental Health (OMH) Commissioner Michael Hogan, Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson and Ithaca Town Supervisor Herb Engman, as well as many other officials from Tompkins County and the Town and City of Ithaca.
The trip also provided an opportunity to meet with many of DHCR’s partners, including Lee Dillon, executive director of Tompkins Community Action (TCA), Brenda Westfall, executive director of the Ithaca Housing Authority, Timothy Fournier, president and CEO of Conifer, John Spence, executive director of Better Housing for Tompkins County, Thomas J. Whitney, executive director of Southern Tier Environments for Living, Inc. (STEL) and Mark Wickham, executive director of Lakeview Mental Health Services.
The first event took place at Conifer Village, a beautiful new 72-unit complex for low-income senior citizens, featuring extraordinary views of Cayuga Lake, a community room and bus service, all in a quiet setting that’s very close to downtown Ithaca. DHCR provided $930,000 in tax credits, which generated approximately $7.3 million for the project.
A second ribbon cutting followed at Ithaca Special Needs Single Room Occupancy (SRO). This 38-unit facility provides comfortable, safe homes and support services for people with mental illnesses, allowing them to live independently in their communities.
DHCR and OMH collaborated on funding the supportive housing residence, which features a dining area that encourages socialization, an activity room and several lounges. The beautiful new facility is located within walking distance to grocery markets and shops.
The third stop on the tour took place at the Northside Apartments. Tompkins Community Action (TCA) received a $60,000 WAP grant from DHCR in 2007 to help cut costs and increase energy efficiency at Northside Apartments. Commissioner VanAmerongen and local officials received a first-hand look at the program and met the Weatherization specialists who were installing high-efficiency furnaces and insulation in the units.
“Seeing the results of our work, meeting the housing advocates who work so tirelessly, and hearing from the residents whose lives are changed for the better by the work we do is perhaps the most rewarding and gratifying part of my job,” Commissioner VanAmerongen said.
