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Changing the face of public housing

RHA's new public housing property on Garson Avenue
rochesterhousing.org
RHA's new public housing property on Garson Avenue

The Rochester Housing Authority wants to change the face of public housing.

RHA officials cut the ribbon today on a new building on Garson Avenue that houses four units.

Executive Director for RHA, John Hill, says they remodeled the entire interior and also made improvements to the exterior to make this public housing property look like any other attractive home in the neighborhood.

He says that's one way to improve the quality of life for residents who live there.

Garson Avenue property prior to remodeling
Credit rochesterhousing.org
Garson Avenue property prior to remodeling

"But it also is a good message to our neighbors that the Housing Authority, one, takes care of its properties, and two, who knows, maybe that very small project there may be some increased value here or there for some of those homes next to it," he said.

Hill says the renovated 4 unit building on Garson Avenue is the first site under the new “Changing the Face of Public Housing,” and could serve as a model for RHA's 24 housing developments.

The $410,000 project was funded using RHA's 2016 HUD Capital Fund Grant.

With RHA HUD funded, and with a new administration coming in, Hill says they're looking at other funding opportunities.