ACCESSIBLE HOUSING

Colonial II Apartments opens in Rome

ROME, N.Y. >> State and local officials celebrated the completion of the rehabilitation and modernization of Colonial II Apartments in the city of Rome in Oneida County with a ribbon cutting and a tour of the facility.

Operated by the Rome Housing Authority, the development provides 74 affordable homes for seniors and people with disabilities. The project was awarded $1 million through the State’s Buildings of Excellence Competition, which aims to advance net-zero carbon multifamily buildings in New York.

“I am pleased that the Colonial II Apartments in Rome have been renovated, rehabilitated, and preserved. This project will provide seniors and individuals with disabilities in the community with access to modern and energy-efficient housing,” State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-rome, said.

In the last five years, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has created or preserved over 1,500 affordable homes in Oneida County. Colonial II Apartments continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan that will create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

“Housing is a problem throughout the state and this project is an example of how to address that problem,” Homes and Community Renewal Director of Development Darren J. Scott said. “In Rome, forty-four percent of all households have difficulty making payments of their rent. They spend thirty percent of their income on housing. That’s not right.”

Colonial II Apartments was originally constructed in 1972 as a school and dormitory and later converted to public housing in 1984. Prior to this rehabilitation, the building had not been upgraded in decades and was rendered functionally obsolete.

Rome Housing Authority Executive Director Maureen Birmingham said Colonial II has seven apartments that are compliant with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.

“This will give them access to everything the other residents have,” she said.

Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan helped Birmingham renovate Liberty Gardens in Rome with Birmingham. He said Colonial II is an asset to the city.

“I think this is great for the elderly and disabled,” he said. “This project stands as a testament to our collective commitment to providing safe, modern, affordable, and accessible housing for our residents. This was a transformative endeavor which will have benefits to this community for many years to come.”

Beacon Communities Development LLC and the Rome Housing Authority redeveloped the property and Colonial Apartments II now features one-bedroom units for residents with incomes at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income. The scope of rehabilitation work included reconfiguring apartments to increase their size, and extensive energy upgrades that enabled the building to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. These energy enhancements include geothermal heating and cooling systems and a vast solar array that is expected to supply 98 percent of the building’s energy.

Financing for Colonial II Apartments includes $2 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, $16.6 million in Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and $12.5 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority awarded the project $1 million through the Buildings of Excellence Competition and provided incentives of $296,000 from the Multifamily New Construction Program and $194,740 from the NYSUN Program. Additional financing was provided by the Rome Housing Authority.

Renovations to Colonial I Apartments, also financed by HCR, were completed in 2019. Colonial I offers 83 affordable homes for seniors and people with disabilities.

“This project stands as a testament to our collective commitment to providing safe, modern, affordable, and accessible housing for our residents. This was a transformative endeavor which will have benefits to this community for many years to come.” — Jeffrey Lanigan, Rome mayor

ROGER SEIBERT — MEDIANEWS GROUP Officials cut the ribbon at Colonial II Apartments in Rome.

State Sen. Joseph Griffo speaks at the Colonial II Apartments opening in Rome.

Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan speaks at the Colonial II Apartments opening.