By Ashley Onyon
AMSTERDAM — After months spent removing deteriorating and largely vacant buildings across a block of East Main Street, an official groundbreaking on the construction of a $21 million affordable and supportive housing project took place Thursday.
“Once this project is built, it is going to have not only removed blight from this neighborhood, but it’s going to put the whole neighborhood on a track for revitalization,” said Darren Scott, upstate east director of development at state Homes and Community Renewal.
State officials suggested the city to DePaul Properties as a possible site for an affordable and supportive housing project several years ago, according to DePaul President Mark Fuller.
A tour of the city led the non-profit to believe the area was ripe for a supportive housing project. Support from local leaders only hardened the agency’s resolve to follow through.
“We felt we could make a real difference not only to this site but the east end of Amsterdam,” Fuller said.
The Recorder
