BUFFALO, N.Y. — A former Buffalo housing development is getting new life today.
Now that financing is set, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the plans for Commodore Perry Homes in Buffalo are moving forward.
Construction crews are rolling out storm water filters to keep debris from going into puddled waters and eventually into storm drains. It's all for a huge project with Perry Housing, which residents see as an abandoned eye sore every time they drive by.
"They should've been torn down a long time ago," one resident said.
"I wanted the stadium down here," another resident said.
The first phase of the construction project will be to demolish the vacant, 24-building complex beginning with preps on Monday and demolition on Tuesday. Once demolition is complete, construction will begin to build 27 new buildings that will be all electric. In total, there will be 405 homes in the housing development.
“Today, we are taking the first steps toward a better and brighter future at the Perry Homes with the demolition of this blighted eyesore,” Governor Hochul said. “Working with Mayor Brown and the City of Buffalo, we are seizing the momentum of progress felt all around this City and transforming the Commodore Perry Homes into a vibrant community that will provide a safe, stable and affordable place to live for residents and families.”
The apartments have been vacant for a decade. So far, fencing is up around the buildings, and warning signs are posted everywhere. 2 On Your Sides Keelin Berrian asked the executive director, Gillian Brown, what made the demolition process take long to start, to which he said, "This is a very old housing development. It took so long because we needed to get a lot of cooperation from a lot of different parties."
HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Rebuilding the Commodore Perry Homes is an opportunity to breathe new life into a long-vacant public housing complex and provide the types of affordable, modern, secure homes that residents need to thrive. This $254 million investment will bring more than 400 new apartments to Buffalo’s First Ward neighborhood, and furthers our commitment to the people of this city and our larger goal of increasing housing supply and creating new opportunities for future generations. To Governor Hochul, our partners Pennrose and Bridges, the BMHA, and the city of Buffalo — thank you for making this project possible!”
The Commodore Perry Homes is part of the governor's $25 billion plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes in New York State.
“Congratulations to Pennrose Holdings, Bridges, BMHA and its residents on the upcoming demolition of the Old First Ward's vacant Perry Homes. This has been a long time coming as this complex of 24 buildings have been a vacant eyesore and public safety concern for more than a decade. This exciting transformational project will breathe new life and activity into a growing section of downtown Buffalo with 400 affordable units. Thank you Governor Hochul and HCR for turning BMHA's and the community's collective vision into a reality," Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said.
Once they are complete, the Perry home apartments will range from one to five bedrooms, the buildings will include fitness centers, free WiFi, on-site laundry and surface parking.
“It is wonderful to see this demolition project moving forward. I am proud of my administration's work with the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA) to remove this blight. The construction of the new Commodore Perry Homes is just one of several affordable and market rate housing initiatives that have been completed or are currently underway in the city of Buffalo. All of this progress is the direct result of my overall strategic plan to improve our housing stock and the quality of life of our residents. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her continued support and investment in this work in our City," added City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
The Perry Homes will also be an all-electric facility. Brown feels the area will undergo a full 180 when redevelopments are complete.
"This is, in my opinion, the biggest, most city-changing development construction project that has happened in many many decades," Brown said.
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