Governor Hochul Celebrates Groundbreaking on Redevelopment of Commodore Perry Homes in Buffalo

UNHCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said: “The Commodore Perry Homes redevelopment is a transformative project for Buffalo, providing an opportunity to inject vitality into a long-dormant public housing complex. By creating more than 400 modern, energy-efficient apartments, we are demonstrating our continued commitment to creating more affordable housing opportunities and enriching Buffalo’s neighborhoods. We thank Governor Hochul and our local partners for their focus on using all available tools to build a more affordable New York for everyone.

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said: “The start of construction on the all-electric Commodore Perry Homes is an exciting step toward creating more energy-efficient, affordable housing in Buffalo. Once completed, this transformational project will ensure residents benefit from healthier, more comfortable homes that maximize energy savings while integrating improved building performance.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said: “For too long, the vacant Commodore Perry Homes complex has been an eyesore in Buffalo’s First Ward neighborhood, but now that building will come down to allow new apartments to go up, turning the neighborhood into a site for new growth and economic opportunities. Every Buffalo resident deserves access to safe, affordable housing, and I’m proud that the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit that I fought hard to fund has provided the millions needed to transform these buildings aging into hundreds of new affordable housing units. High housing costs are a key driver of inflation. So we need to build more housing to bring down these high prices. I applaud Governor Hochul’s commitment to increasing access to affordable housing across the Empire State, and I will continue to fight to provide the federal resources needed to lay the foundation for a better future for the West of New York State.

Representative Tim Kennedy said: “The new Perry Homes will play an important role in providing high-quality, affordable housing for Buffalo residents. With more than $254 million invested in revitalizing this community’s housing supply, this initiative engages all levels of government to breathe new life into a historic neighborhood. This latest development is catalyzed by advancements including the successful reconstruction of Ohio Street and the planned reconstruction of Louisiana Street, delivering tens of millions of dollars in federal and state funding to revitalize Buffalo’s urban landscape and provide better quality of life to its residents.

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said: “Congratulations to the residents of Pennrose, BMHA, Bridges Development and Commodore Perry on the groundbreaking of new affordable housing. These new residential units and commercial spaces will be fully electric, energy efficient and affordable. Everyone deserves to live in clean, safe housing. Without the support of Governor Hochul, Empire State Development and New York Homes & Community Renewal, none of this would be possible.

HUD Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel said: “I am pleased that HUD is playing a major and ongoing role in the future of hundreds of Commodore Perry families by providing residents with monthly rental subsidies through project-based rental assistance. After many years of blight and great efforts by our partners, Commodore Perry will finally become new affordable housing for hundreds of Buffalonians and a safe community for this great city,” said Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Regional Administrator of HUD for New York and New Jersey. . HUD also provided $6 million in capital funds, $1.1 million in community development block grants, more than $5 million in rehabilitation assistance payments and $16 million in fund resources Housing Trustee through New York State. I commend the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority for its work with this centerpiece of Buffalo and look forward to returning to meet the families who will transform this site into an uplifting neighborhood.”

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said: “Affordable housing is a critical need in our community and creating more of it is a high priority. The Commodore Perry Homes redevelopment will bring more than four hundred new affordable housing units to Erie County, all highly efficient and accessible to households with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income. This project invigorates the Perry neighborhood in South Buffalo and I thank Governor Hochul for his continued focus on the issue of affordable housing.

City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said: “We have worked hard to initiate the development of the BMHA Commodore Perry. This development will offer an excellent quality of life to residents of this neighborhood. I am proud of the work that BMHA and our Office of Strategic Planning have done to advance this development. My administration and our Office of Strategic Planning were successful in securing the funds needed for development. This includes $6.1 million in grants from the City of Buffalo through the ReStore NY and Community Block Grant programs; $6 million in BMHA capital funds; $5 million in RAD rehabilitation assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and $1.6 million in federal funds for energy-efficient homes. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her important role in all of this and her continued support of my administration’s mission to continue to strengthen the City of Buffalo.

Pennrose Regional Vice President Dylan Salmons said: “We are proud to join the state, the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, Bridges Development, Inc. and all of our project partners on this comprehensive transformation plan. Today’s groundbreaking represents years of collaboration and is an exciting next step in providing high-quality, affordable housing, robust resident amenities and comprehensive support services to the First Ward neighborhood.