Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Monday for Stadium Estates, new affordable housing units which will be built right across the street from Sahlen's Stadium in the JOSANA neighborhood in northwest Rochester.
It will consist of 45 3, 4 or 5 bedroom rental units, with the possibility of home ownership in the future.
Scott Benjamin is president of Charles Settlement House, one of the co-developers.
He says the project continues what was envisioned for the neighborhood when Sahlen's Stadium was built.
Benjamin says his organization is providing support and services that people need, but the residents of the neighborhood have really driven this whole process.
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren notes that a city is only as strong as its neighborhood, and we can make all the investment in downtown Rochester we want to, but if we don't take care of our neighborhoods for our children, our schools and families, the city won't survive.
Benjamin says total costs for the project are around 10.5-million dollars.
The state is investing 9.2 million toward Stadium Estates.
There are several partners involved in this project: Co-developers Charles Settlement House and Rochester's Cornerstone Group, Atlas Builders,
SWBR Architects, Stantec, Davidson Fink LLP, City of Rochester, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, Federal Home Loan Band of New York, NYS Housing Trust Fund, Raymond James Tax Credit Funds, inc., and Citizens Bank.
It's expected construction will take about a year.
Here's today's groundbreaking:
http://youtu.be/NfgIBClbrEQ