New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction has started on the $71 million rehabilitation of the Ellicott Town Center, a decades-old housing development near downtown Buffalo with 281 homes in four high-rise towers and 12 townhomes.
Ellicott Town Center’s rehabilitation is being developed by Beacon Communities and First Shiloh Development LLC, an affiliate of the First Shiloh Baptist Church, which is located adjacent to the Ellicott Town Center campus.
“The City of Buffalo has been through an extremely challenging time, so it’s incredibly gratifying to be able to celebrate a project that invests in the future and will have a positive impact for years to come,” said Beacon Communities CEO Dara Kovel. “This long-awaited renovation will improve residents’ quality of life enabling them to continue living in, and contributing to, the community that they know and love.
“Beacon is proud to partner with First Shiloh Housing Corporations and our many public and private sector partners to bring this important undertaking to fruition. We look forward to expanding our efforts to deliver high-quality, affordable, and sustainable housing to tenants across Western New York and the rest of the state.”
The project is part of a state-wide $25 billion housing plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.
“Located near Buffalo’s downtown, the Ellicott Town Center is within walking distance of many amenities, and is accessible by public transportation,” Hochul said. “The substantial redevelopment will make both interior and exterior improvements to the buildings, including kitchen and bathroom updates in all apartments, new roofs, windows, siding, sidewalks and enhanced lighting.
Improvements are expected to increase the building’s efficiency and lead to a 20 per cent energy savings.”
State financing includes $36 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits, nearly $32 million in tax-exempt housing bonds, and nearly $23 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority provided $300,000 in support through the Clean Energy Initiative.
“With construction starting today, Ellicott Town Center tenants will soon have a brighter future and affordable housing units – with many modern upgrades,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. “Providing city tenants and residents with quality and affordable housing will continue to advance our efforts to create a hope-filled city with an exciting future.”
