Categories: New York State, Member News, Groundbreakings
08.02.2022
On July 19th, Citizen Advocates joined project and government partners to break ground on a new affordable/supportive housing residence, Harison Place. When complete it will create 40 new units of affordable housing – 20 of which will be supportive – in Malone, New York. Citizen Advocates will provide onsite services funded by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) through New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH).
The newly constructed building will also feature five commercial spaces.
“The decision to locate safe and stable housing in the heart of downtown Malone was deliberate,” said James Button, Citizen Advocates President & CEO. “Our vision from the start was to replace blighted property with affordable housing, and the investment in this vision sends a strong signal to individuals and organizations that our downtown communities can once again be thriving economic drivers. This is about more than housing – it is a pathway to healthier communities. From this, a reinvigorated North Country can emerge.”
"This project is an economic development anchor and people will see and it will be contagious on what can be done here with the revitalization of downtown Malone," said Assemblyman Billy Jones. "It provides hope, it provides housing, it provides an economic development anchor for other businesses and the businesses that have been here."
“When we raise up our most vulnerable citizens, everybody benefits,” said Isabel Bazaluda, Mental Health Program Specialist, New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH).
Senator Dan Stec, Andrea Dumas, Mayor of the Village of Malone; Adriana Favreau, North Country Chamber of Commerce; Darren Scott, HCR; Dana Greenberg, OTDA; Stephen Hunt, North Country Office, Empire State Development; and Isabella Bazaldua, OMH, also spoke.
Financing for the project comes from New York State Office of Temporary Disability Assistance’s (OTDA) Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HHAP), New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s (HCR) Supportive Housing Opportunity Program (SHOP), Community Investment Fund (CIF) and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, as well as Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP). In addition, Citizen Advocates invested $6.7 million as part of the overall project development cost.
The project developer is Bruce Levine with 3d Development, the architect is Mark Caruso and the general contractor is Celia Construction.
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