CreekView is the first affordable development outside of NYC’s five boroughs to adhere to Passive House Institute US construction techniques; designed to cut energy consumption by up to 80%
Investment Complements Finger Lakes Forward, the Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy
Canandaigua, NY June 13, 2018 New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas was joined by Baldwin Development, the Community Preservation Corporation, local elected officials and other partners to announce the groundbreaking for a new $20 million affordable apartment complex in the Town of Canandaigua.
CreekView Apartments will consist of twelve two-story buildings with 96 homes for area residents in the high-performing Canandaigua Central School district close to shopping, recreation, jobs, and public transportation. The first affordable housing development of its kind outside of New York City designed to conform to the Passive House Institute Certification program, CreekView will be durable and energy efficient, reducing energy consumption by up to 80 percent.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s commitment to strengthening communities and growing the Finger Lakes economy is reflected in Finger Lakes Forward, a $500 million state investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative that that builds on the more than $5.2 billion the State has injected in the region since 2012. The State’s investment in the CreekView Apartments complements the Finger Lakes Forward initiative by expanding housing options in a growing area with high-performing schools.
Commissioner Visnauskas said, “With passive house features that keep energy costs low and its access to shopping, transportation, and jobs, CreekView Apartments will provide residents the opportunity to live in healthy, durable and secure homes in a growing area with access to quality schools. By investing in housing that links residents to the community, we strengthen the economy and keep the Finger Lakes region moving forward.”
Each of the apartments will have an individual entrance, balcony or patio, and storage, along with individual heating and cooling systems, Energy Star appliances, and laundry hookups. The development also offers residents discounted broadband internet and a computer lab. There will be 15 first-floor handicapped accessible units and all other first floor units will be handicapped adaptable and visitable. The gross rents (rent plus utilities) will range from $637 to $968 a month.
CreekView Apartments is designed to standards set by the Passive House Institute US for quantifiable energy efficiency – from 65 to 80 percent better performance – by following specific design principles including an airtight building envelope, continuous insulation, high performance windows, balanced ventilation, and the ability to block or admit natural sunlight and heat. Because the buildings are super insulated and set up to receive solar panels, the development will also be certified to the DOE Net Zero Energy Ready Homes program.
Planning for the second and third affordable phases of the development is underway.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal is providing a Housing Trust Fund Loan of more than $1.8 million and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $14 million for the development. NYSERDA is providing $78,600 for energy efficient measures. The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) is providing a $3.6 million permanent loan financed through their partnership with the New York State Common Retirement Fund. Key Community Development Corporation is the tax credit investor.
The development is part of the Governor’s unprecedented $20 billion, five-year plan to create or preserve more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 with supportive services. It joins developments in Canandaigua such as Liberty Apartments at Parkside, which opened last yearand is providing 48 homes and support services for veterans and families. Since 2011, HCR has built and preserved more than 537 affordable homes in Ontario County, investing more than $121.4 million and leveraging more than $58.8 in other financing. In addition, HCR, through its State of New York Mortgage Agency, has made more than $6.2 million in loans to 59 first-time homebuyers.
Canandaigua Town Supervisor Greg Westbrook said, “By creating additional affordable housing, this project will help meet some of the housing needs for the residents of Canandaigua. The additional phases, which have preliminary site plan approval, will be critical in meeting the affordable housing demand for working families in the area.”
Miriam Zinter, Mortgage Officer at CPC, said: “Passive House and other high-performance standards can provide significant savings that contribute the long-term economic stability and overall affordability of properties, better living conditions for tenants, and greener and cleaner communities. We’re proud to invest in projects like CreekView that bring new efficient and affordable housing to the Canandaigua community. My thanks to Baldwin Development for their vision, to HCR Commissioner Visnauskas, and to Comptroller DiNapoli and our funders at the CRF for their commitment to investing in housing opportunities throughout the state.”
Baldwin Development President, Bill Durdel said: “The Town of Canandaigua identified a need to create new affordable housing as a community objective. We believe CreekView Apartments fills a significant portion of that need by creating quality affordable housing where hardworking people can raise their families and have access to a performing school district, in a growing economic community. In addition, this is smart, sustainable development. We’re excited to be the first outside of New York City to develop this type of residential affordable housing using Passive House Institute construction techniques for the Net Zero Energy Ready Homes design.”
Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward
Today’s announcement complements “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $5.2 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan – investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Rochester, Batavia and Canandaigua as a destination to grow and invest in.
Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs. More information is available here.