Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $20Mil Upgrade of Housing Development- Herkimer County
October 7, 2021
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of a $20 million renovation of the Eastern Gardens Apartments in the Herkimer Village of Herkimer County. Now known as Stone Ridge Mills, the rehabilitated public housing development offers 63 new energy-efficient and affordable homes for families.
"We are aggressively working to create and preserve much-needed affordable housing throughout the Mohawk Valley and across the state, in our commitment to strengthen the community and allow New Yorkers to live safely and in dignity,"
Governor Hochul said.
"This upgraded Stone Ridge Mills apartment complex will offer modern and affordable homes, providing village residents with a comfortable, affordable, and healthy environment."
Built in 1954, the original complex included seven two-story buildings with 48 apartments. Rehabilitation work included new roofs and siding, energy-efficient windows, open floor plans, upgraded security systems, high-efficiency lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, new kitchens and bathrooms and Energy Star appliances.
The project also includes the construction of an additional two-story building with 15 brand-new apartments. All buildings meet the standards of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority's low-rise residential new construction program, EPA's Performance Path with Energy Star and those of Enterprise Green Communities.
Stone Ridge Mills features 14 one-bedroom, 34 two-bedroom, ten three-bedroom, and five four-bedroom apartments. Most apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income.
There are eight fully accessible apartments for mobility-impaired residents and five fully accessible apartments for hearing/vision impaired residents. Seven apartments are set aside for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Stone Ridge Mills is conveniently located near public transportation, shopping, a bank, hospital, and Herkimer College.
An existing Head Start facility that provides free on-site programs for children is being relocated from the community building to another Herkimer Housing Authority property, Stone Ridge Daycare, so that the building can be returned for use as community space. The rehabilitated community building now has energy-efficient mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire suppression systems and accessible laundry facilities, as well as new playgrounds and sidewalks.
The developer is the Herkimer Housing Authority with Edgemere serving as housing consultant. State financing for the development is through New York State Homes and Community Renewal's allocation of Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated nearly $16 million in equity and $2.4 million from the Public Housing Preservation program. An additional $1.3 million was awarded by HCR through the Rural and Urban Community Investment Fund to finance the relocation and upgrade of the Head Start facility. NYSERDA provided $63,000 in support.
The rehabilitation of Stone Ridge Mills is part of the state's unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan to make housing accessible and to combat homelessness by building or preserving more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 homes with supportive services. In the last decade, HCR has invested more than $265 million in the Mohawk Valley which has created or preserved nearly 2,600 affordable homes.
To read more about this story, you can visit Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $20 Million Upgrade of Affordable Housing Development in Herkimer County.
New York Pressroom
October 7, 2021