SCHENECTADY –Mayor Gary McCarthy today announced that the City of Schenectady will provide funding to Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County to demolish three blighted homes on Carrie Street. Habitat for Humanity will build two new homes on the site.
“We are pleased to work with Habitat for Humanity to continue efforts to rebuild the City’s Northside neighborhood,” said Mayor McCarthy.
“Schenectady Habitat has a reputation of working to eradicate poverty housing and to help provide low-income, working-class families with safe, decent and affordable homes in our community,” said John Scharf, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County. “Our staff and dedicated volunteers stand ready to work closely with the City of Schenectady and the Capital Region Land Bank to assist with the continued transformation of Schenectady’s neighborhoods. I am confident that our combined efforts will make a positive difference in the lives of local families, strengthen the backbone of our community and serve as a catalyst for the City of Schenectady’s continued growth and success.
“Thank you Habitat for Humanity for undertaking this project that will continue our efforts to stabilize our neighborhoods and create quality housing for our residents,” said Jeff McDonald, Schenectady County Legislator and Board Member of the Capital Region Land Bank. “This is another example of Schenectady County and the City working together with community partners to produce real change in our neighborhoods.”
Habitat just completed a new home at 2106 Van Vranken Avenue on the Northside. Bids are due back to Habitat Schenectady for the Carrie Street project on December 12th for pre-demolition work including asbestos removal. Demolition work is expected to occur in early 2015. The three properties to be demolished are located at 1560, 1564 and 1568 Carrie Street.
The City of Schenectady is providing funding for the Carrie Street demolitions. The funding has been approved by the City Council. Habitat will privately fund the construction of two new homes after demolition is finished and use community volunteers to complete the project.
In recent weeks, the City working in close cooperation with Senator Schumer, HUD, New York State and the County’s unified economic development team has announced plans for sixty (60) new housing units which represents an $18 million investment in Hamilton Hill; sixty (60) new senior apartments at the former YMCA at 13 State Street, another $18 million investment; the sale of eleven (11) city owned houses to new owner occupants, and nine (9) more demolitions to remove blighted buildings in City neighborhoods.
Schenectady received the largest Land Bank grant ($3 million) in the recent round of funding from Attorney General Schneiderman and received outstanding support from Senator Schumer to obtain another $3 million from HUD to be used for neighborhood revitalization efforts. Schenectady is using a mix of renovations, demolitions, property sales, façade grants, and property promotions all as part of Mayor McCarthy’s HOMES Program – Home Ownership Made Easy in Schenectady.
Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County has built 43 homes in Schenectady since 1996.
Anyone interested in volunteering with Schenectady Habitat to build the two new houses on Carrie Street or donating to the project should contact Karen McLane at volunteer@schenectadyhabitat.org or visit www.schenectadyhabitat.org to sign up online.