Verona, Rome receiving $14.3 million in grants

ALBANY, N.Y. » Two area housing developments have been awarded more than $14.3 million to create 130 affordable homes for local families. The funding is part of more than $200million the state is awarding to build or preserve 2,800 affordable apartments across New York’s 10 regions, revitalize communities, and generate $1.1 billion in economic activity.

Jason Gwilt Memorial Senior Apartments, town of Verona, will receive $4.1 million in financing. Through the adaptive reuse of a vacant elementary school, this mixed-use development will create 50 affordable homes for low-income New Yorkers over age 55, including 15 apartments that will serve homeless individuals. The development will receive supportive services funded through Governor Cuomo’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative.

DeWitt Clinton Apartments in the city of Rome will receive $10.2 million. These 80 affordable apartments will serve as the anchor to the city of Rome’s Waterfront Village revitalization. They will be built on the grounds of the DeWitt Clinton School, a blighted former elementary school that will be demolished as part of the project. Of the 80 apartments, 40 will be set aside for homeless individuals who will receive support services through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Empire State Support- ive Housing Initiative.

“This investment is a significant milestone in New York’s $20 billion housing and homelessness plan, and a giant step forward in our efforts to increase access to homes for families, seniors and our most vulnerable men and women across the state,” Cuomo said. “These resources will help the region build affordable, stronger, better neighborhoods for our residents for generations to come.”

The governor’s commit- ment to providing all New Yorkers with access to safe, affordable housing is reflected in the state’s unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan. The plan makes housing accessible and combats homelessness by building and preserving 112,000 units of affordable housing, and 6,000 units of supportive housing. The plan is a comprehensive approach to statewide housing issues and includes multifamily and single-family housing, community de- velopment, and rent stabilization.

The funds were available through New York State Homes & Community Renewal’s 2017 Unified Funding Application, a streamlined process to apply for Low Income Housing Tax Credits and low-interest loans for affordable, multifamily developments. Projects are funded in every region of the state.