The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Local leaders praise City Centre Apartments
Leaders look forward to housing complex’ role in downtown growth
Dignitaries from the city, county and state hope the complex will help with downtown growth.
ONEIDA >> State and local officials celebrated the completion of a two year, roughly $12 million workforce housing complex with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Oneida City Centre Apartments on Wednesday.
A cooperative effort between multiple levels of government - city, county, and state - Executive Director of Stoneleigh Housing Robert Napoli and Kinderhook Development spokesperson Donna Bonfardeci both played integral roles in bringing the housing complex to the City of Oneida and hope that the development will be a boon in the ongoing effort to revitalize the city downtown.
New York state Sen. David Valesky, D-53, and City of Oneida Mayor Leo Matzke all spoke of the importance of the development to the community, particularly Flats residents displaced by the Flood of 2013.
“This is so much more than a housing development,” Valesky said. “This is so much about community revitalization and rebirth.”
Matzke was particularly pleased with the City Centre Apartments developers and ad- ministration because those displaced by the flood received priority placement in the housing complex.
“You stepped up and gave them in the Flats first dibs,” he said.
Themayor also addressed the importance of the government and private sectors working together for the betterment of the community.
Madison County Chairman John Becker said he hopes to “have many more projects like this to come” when discussing the cooperative efforts between the county and city.
Assemblyman Bill Magee, D-121, discussed how he watched the development from his Oneida-based office before commending the developers on the project.
“There’s a need for quality, affordable housing, and that is what this project does,” Magee said.
The newly-constructed apartments include eight one-bedroom, 20 two-bedroom, and 12 three-bedroom apartment dispersed throughout four two-story residential buildings, and when at capacity as they are now, can house roughly 128.
Located at 120N. Warner St., the City Centre Apartments welcomed its first tenants on Friday, July 15. Roughly $12 million complex created by Kinderhook Development of Chittenango in conjunction with Stoneleigh Housing of Canastota.
Tenants must adhere to a strict no-tolerance drug policy in their residences; this includes visitors. Pets are not allowed. Everyone residing in the home must have their names on the lease, including significant others of single parents.
Applicants who have been displaced as a result of the Flood of 2013 are receiving preference in the application process, which in- cludes a credit check, criminal background check and financial analysis. The Arc of Madison Cortland also has priority for eight units.
The City Centre Apartments feature a community building where the security station is based, a site manager will be on hand Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., computers with WiFi access, a meeting room, and kitchen space. With real-time playback and 24/7 recording, the City Centre Apartments are offering a comprehensive security system to residents. The handicap accessible apartments feature central air and heat, storage space, a dishwasher, patio or balcony, and Energy Star rated appliances. Each floor in the residential buildings is equipped with coin-operated laundry rooms.