New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction is underway on a $33 million redevelopment of a public housing complex in Utica that will replace three aging buildings with 71 modern apartments.
Parkway Gardens, a three-story development that will replace three buildings in the N.D. Peters Public Housing complex, which was built in the 1960s.
The existing buildings contain 28 apartments. They will be demolished as part of the project, with the new development adding 43 additional apartments.
“Significant investments in housing, healthcare and other industries continue to strengthen Utica and lay the groundwork for its future,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “Parkway Gardens is another example of how we are investing in the future of Utica and making it a place where people want to live and raise their families. This adds to our commitment to providing safe, affordable and sustainable housing for all New Yorkers.”
The project is being developed by Vecino and People First, formerly the Utica Municipal Housing Authority.
Tenants who lived in the three buildings being demolished have been relocated to other People First properties. They will be guaranteed apartments in the new Parkway Gardens development at no additional monthly cost.
The 71 apartments will include one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units and will be affordable to households earning up to 80 per cent of the area median income.
The development will include eight apartments designed for people with mobility disabilities and three for residents with sensory disabilities.
The all-electric building will include Energy Star appliances, water-saving plumbing fixtures, high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, and energy recovery ventilators designed to improve indoor air quality.
The site is close to schools, public transit connecting to downtown Utica, Proctor Park and Starch Factory Creek and its trail system. New pedestrian paths will connect the property with the surrounding neighbourhood and park system.
The project is being financed through a combination of public and private funding.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal is providing $9.2 million in subsidy and federal and state low-income housing tax credits expected to generate more than $16.8 million in equity.
The City of Utica is contributing $1 million through its HOME program, while People First is providing $800,000. The project also received $2 million through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s Affordable Housing Program.
People First will provide project-based rental assistance for 28 of the apartments.
HCR said it has created or preserved more than 1,400 affordable homes in Oneida County under Hochul’s administration. Parkway Gardens is part of the governor’s $25 billion, five-year housing plan, which aims to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York State.
