While Carlton Street gets a makeover, a bunch of formerly vacant lots are sprouting new homes in the Fruit Belt. St. John Fruit Belt Community Development Corp. is developing 49 new townhomes on properties just east of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
The $15.3 million project will include 17 buildings. Most of the buildings will have two to three townhouses each with rear parking. Three of the buildings along Virginia Street will be ranch-style, handicapped-accessible residences. A two-bedroom ranch unit is being constructed at the southwest corner of Virginia and Lemon, a three-bedroom plan is at the northeast corner of Virginia and Maple, and a four-bedroom plan is at the southwest corner of Mulberry and Virginia.
Buildings have been designed to complement the 28 townhouses St. John CDC built seven years ago with predominantly brick front facades, siding, cedar shingle accenting and full-front porches.
Monthly rents will be $500 for two bedroom units, $550 for three bedroom units and $600 for four bedroom units, plus utilities. Each townhome has a front porch with off-street parking provided in the rear of the property. Every house will be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), and will include energy efficient mechanical systems and landscaping.
New York State is providing $10 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits and $2.4 million in funds through the New York State HOME program.
The City of Buffalo is providing $2.75 million in HOME funds. Key Community Development Corporation is providing approximately $9.2 million in private equity investment. Stratford Capital Group is the syndicator for the project with M&T Bank providing construction financing.
General contractors are Lamparelli Construction Company and SLR Contracting and Service Company, both of Buffalo. Foit-Albert Associates is project architect.