Work has started on a $57 million affordable housing rehabilitation project in downtown Buffalo, largely funded by New York State’s Division of Homes and Community Renewal.
The McCarley Gardens development plan calls for 135 of the existing units to receive a comprehensive tenant-in-place renovation, BuffaloRising.com reported on Feb. 3.
The existing 21-townhome style buildings were built in 1978. Developers BFC Partners, St. John Baptist Church and Sinatra & Co Real Estate plan to add four additional two-story structures with 14 additional units on the site. Carmina Wood Morris prepared the renovation plans.
The scope of renovations will include the installation of new kitchens with upgraded appliances, fixtures, cabinets, and countertops; new low-flow bathroom fixtures; and cosmetic upgrades that include new flooring and new paint. Site work will include replacement of storm and sewer lines, repaving parking areas, new sidewalks, and landscaping.
Energy efficiency will be enhanced with upgraded insulation, new windows, Energy Star-rated appliances, and high-efficiency boilers and hot water heaters where needed. These improvements are expected to reduce overall energy usage by approximately 29 percent.
Later, developers plan to build a six-story 212-unit apartment building on Ellicott Street. The work is expected to be completed in 2024.
“We are working tirelessly to expand much-needed affordable housing throughout New York State, and this new housing upgrade will help strengthen Buffalo’s community and allow New Yorkers to live safely and sustainably,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “Projects like McCarley Gardens Apartments are a key part of my administration’s commitment to provide modern and affordable homes, and to build towards a more prosperous future for hardworking families in Buffalo and beyond.”
