Ground broken for affordable housing

MIDDLETOWN — New York State Homes & Community Renewal, the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Occupations, Inc., and Warwick Properties, Inc., broke ground last week on Oak Ridge Apartments in Middletown.

The 78-unit apartment complex will offer affordable workforce apartments, including 15 for people with developmental disabilities. This is the first affordable housing apartment complex in the state funded under Homes & Community Renewal’ s Leveraged Loan Program with the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s efforts to increase access to supportive housing in the New York, according to the state’s press release detailing the effort.

Helping people live where they work

“Oak Ridge Apartments will stand as a model of partnerships and the effective use of investments to help people live in the communities where they work, and to help those with developmental disabilities live independently,” said Darryl C. Towns, the commissioner and CEO of Homes & Community Renewal.

Oak Ridge Apartment complex, managed by Devon Management, will offer one, two and several three bedroom apartments with rents based upon the income level of those who will qualify.

Warwick Properties and Devon Management is a builder and management group for senior citizen housing with more than 25 years experience.

Occupations, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, provides a variety of services to children, families and adults in eight counties in the Hudson Valley for 50 years.

Funding sources
The Community Preservation Corporation is providing a $8 million construction loan and a $2.6 million New York State Pension Fund permanent loan for the development of Oak Ridge Apartments, according to Doug Olcott, the corporation’s senior vice president and Hudson Valley regional director.

“We believe that providing stable, supportive homes for vulnerable populations is an essential aspect of building strong, collaborative communities,” Olcott said in the press release. “In collaboration with the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Occupations Inc., and long-time partner Jonah Mandelbaum, we will be bringing 78 much-needed units of housing to the work force and special needs population of Middletown.”

The financing also includes an annual allocation of $1.4 million in low income housing tax credits from Homes & Community Renewal, which leveraged a Community Preservation Corporation loan and funding from the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. The office’s funding will support services for 15 apartments.

“This project will support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to choose to live in their own apartments with the supports they need,” said Amy Anderson-Winchell, CEO of Occupations System of Care. “This opportunity supports Occupations to further our mission to support people with disabilities to live meaningful lives of their choice fully integrated in our community.”