Showing Posts by Date: 05/2013
05.13.2013
On one of the year's most beautiful days -- May 10 -- friends and supporters of Providence House's first supportive/affordable housing residence gathered for the opening of the D'Addario Residence in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. The joyous occasion came a stunning seven years after the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) first approached Providence House with the City-owned property. The location, formerly an empty lot, is now home to 46 individuals and small families, many of whom have struggled with homelessness.
Sister Janet Kinney, Providence House's Executive Director, was among several of the day's speakers. Joining her were NYS Rep. Annette Robinson and representatives for NYS Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, NYC Councilman Albert Vann and Community Board 3 Chair Henry Butler. Sister Helen Marie Kearney gave the invocation.
HPD Assistant Commissioner Jessica Katz recalled an incident during Sister Janet's first visit to their offices. Upon entering the building, security found, of all things, a pocket knife on Sister Janet.
"We knew she was trouble from the start," Ms. Katz joked.
Continue Reading …05.06.2013
Eighty formerly homeless and low-income Rochester residents now have a place to call home thanks to Eastman Commons, a new supportive housing residence from Common Ground.
The building was the site of a grand opening ceremony on May 1, when government, nonprofit and for-profit partners gathered to celebrate the project. The $15 million residence, formerly the site of an industrial laundry and re-mediated through the NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program, offers one-bedroom apartments to 41 formerly homeless and 39 low-income individuals. The residence first opened its doors late last year.
Eastman Commons' ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony included a number of guest speakers, including Rochester Mayor Thomas Richards, Rochester City Council President Lovely Warren and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, NYS Sen. Joseph Robach and NYS Rep. Joseph Morelle.
Representatives from NYS Homes & Community Renewal (HCR) and NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC) also spoke at the event.
New York State contributed nearly $7 million in financing for the project, $4 million from HCR and $3 million from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). The City of Rochester and the Rochester Housing Authority contributed to the project; construction financing was provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank NA. Goldman, Sachs & Co. provided $8.8M in equity for the project. Services funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Bergmann Associates and Nativo General Contracting served as the architect and contractor for the residence, respectively.
Congratulations to Common Ground, the residents of Rochester and all 80 men and women who now live at Eastman Commons!
Caption: Partners gather on May 1 for the grand opening of Eastman Commons, a new supportive housing residence in Rochester. Photo courtesy of Common Ground.
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