Categories: Member News, Openings
05.06.2013
New residence offers supportive housing in Rochester
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.