In a celebration of what can truly be accomplished when community partners align, Governor Kathy Hochul led the ribbon cutting to officially complete Impact Utica, the $101 million project in the city of Utica that preserves 93 public housing units at Chancellor Apartments and transforms a historic former warehouse into the 74-unit Broad Street Apartments.
Developed by the People First (the Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Utica) and Vecino, Impact Utica is a priority project in Utica’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Located approximately half a mile away from each other, all units at Chancellor Apartments and Broad Street Apartments are affordable to households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Chancellor Apartments, a six-story building originally constructed in 1978, underwent interior and exterior rehabilitation, including a new roof, sidewalk repairs and improved kitchen layouts. All units at Chancellor Apartments will continue to serve as public housing operated by the Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Utica.
“The completion of this transformative project is a powerful example of what we can achieve when we work together to address community housing needs,” said Robert Calli, executive director of People First. “This development provides safe, stable homes and supportive services to help residents improve their quality of life, thrive, and become self-sufficient.”
The development of Broad Street Apartments entailed the adaptive re-use of a four-story vacant warehouse, originally constructed in 1903 as the Avalon Knitting Mill, that is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. There are 24 units at Broad Street Apartments that include supportive services for at-risk youth, with services including case management and referral to job training and educational services.
“New York State has been a great partner for the community-focused housing that Vecino creates,” said Rick Manzardo, Chairman of the Vecino Group. “But even when built, true success can’t happen without local dedication and teamwork. The City of Utica—and especially People First and their mission-driven approach—have again been great collaborators for us to help deliver for the people of Utica.”
Both components of Impact Utica are highly energy-efficient. Broad Street is all-electric and was designed to meet 2020 Enterprise Green Communities criteria, with energy efficiency measures including increased insulation and an energy recovery ventilation system. The rehabilitation of Chancellor Apartments has reduced expected energy usage by 20% and the development was designed to meet Affordable Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program criteria, with improvements including the installation of electric air source heat pumps and more efficient natural gas fired boilers.
Vecino Construction served as the general contractor on both properties, from abatement through occupancy.
State financing for Impact Utica includes support from HCR’s State and Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Programs that will generate over $39 million in equity and $58 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has facilitated the use of Federal and State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits that will generate over $10 million in equity. The city of Utica provided $500,000 in HOME funding.
