REHABILITATED WEST SIDE HOUSE GETS NEW OWNER

 

BUFFALO—Mayor Byron W. Brown today gave house keys to Mr. Terry Potter, the proud new owner of a rehabilitated home on Buffalo’s West Side. The house, located at 329 Connecticut Street, was part of a project sponsored by the City of Buffalo, West Side Neighborhood Housing Services, a chartered member of NeighborWorks® America, and the Buffalo Niagara JOBS Initiative. Students from Erie Community College performed most of the rehabilitation work on three West Side homes this summer.

 

“This program is an excellent way to teach students about the building trades,” said Mayor Brown. “It also helps people become homeowners and helps revitalize Buffalo neighborhoods by rehabilitating formerly vacant, blighted homes.”  

 

The Buffalo Niagara JOBS Initiative is a comprehensive workforce and pre-apprenticeship program that uses existing City of Buffalo properties as a “Community Laboratory.” Funding for this project was provided by the City of Buffalo HOME funds through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Mr. Potter attended homeownership classes at West Side NHS, and was also assisted by staff while obtaining his mortgage through HSBC Bank. 

 

“Collaboration is important as we work to revitalize Buffalo’s neighborhoods,” said Timothy E. Wanamaker, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning. “By working with the Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), HUD, West Side NHS and the Buffalo Niagara JOBS Initiative, the City of Buffalo is able to save and rehab more houses in our older neighborhoods.”

 

Three homes were rehabilitated through this program, 329 Connecticut Street, 49½ Essex Street, and 116 19^th Street.    The HOME funding provided by HUD totaled $300,000. The funding covers such items as a new roof, kitchen, appliances, plumbing, electrical, lead abatement, heating, insulation, and bathrooms.