Focused Investment at Holy Rosary

Landmark Church Gets new Life with Focused Investment 

Holy Rosary Apartments and Strategic Infill, a new affordable housing project for individuals and families, broke ground on Friday, Aug. 3 on the former Holy Rosary Parish Campus, 414 Lexington Ave

Mayor Richards at Holy Rosary
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The project will convert the Holy Rosary Campus into a vital community center with affordable rental units on campus and single family housing throughout the surrounding area.

Mayor Thomas S. Richards joined funding partners, The Holy Rev. Bishop Matthew Clark, local representatives and the development team to celebrate the beginning of the adaptive reuse of this historic property into much-needed affordable housing for Rochester’s Edgerton Neighborhood.

"The Holy Rosary campus redevelopment shows us what can happen when federal resources are used effectively by public and private partners to build a better community," said Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter. "This partnership has brought affordable, attractive housing to a community that eagerly awaits such good news. I am so proud of the work that Providence Housing performs in the Rochester community- creating opportunities where none existed before and bringing back to life buildings and neighborhoods for our most vulnerable citizens."

The $15 million project is made possible in part with equity provided by Enterprise Community Partners ($8,213,178), FHLB forgivable loan throughFirst Niagara ($645,000), and Martin Luther King Fund through United Way ($10,000). Additional funding of $3,503,099 is made possible through the New York State Housing Trust Fund, and $725,000 through City HOME.

"Holy Rosary Church and Campus has served the Northwest community with distinction and compassion for more than a century – educating our children for decades and ministering to its residents," said Mayor Richards. "Now it is time to continue that tradition in a renewed spirit and ministry. The parish campus is being converted into a needed community center for area citizens. The Dewey-Driving Park Focused Investment Area will realize 35 new residential rental units on the campus and 25 single family affordable housing units will be developed in the areas adjacent to the campus. I want to thank Providence Housing Development for helping to make this a reality. I am pleased that the City has been a contributing partner, but I am gratified to see new life and a resurgence of this vital community."

Holy Rosary Apartments and Strategic Infill is for individuals and families whose income is less than 50% of the area median income (AMI) which currently is $24,050 for one person. Rents ranges from $425 for a studio apartment to $759 for a four-bedroom single-family home. Occupancy and income requirements apply. Applications are available by calling Providence Housing at (585) 328-3228 ext. 1393. Occupancy will start in January 2013 and continue throughout the year.

Carla Palumbo, City of Rochester Northwest District Councilmember said, “I am thrilled to see this project go forward. This is a good strong project that will be a wonderful reuse of a building, provide for good quality and affordable housing and strengthen NW area of the city."

The project offers 35 apartments on the campus of the former Holy Rosary parish plus 25 new construction single-family homes in the Edgerton neighborhood. All are 100 percent smoke-free apartments. Six apartments will be wheelchair accessible and most units are visitable for persons with mobility impairments. Three of the apartments will be suited for the visually or hearing impaired. The energy-efficient apartments will have fully equipped Energy Star kitchens, individually controlled heat/air conditioning, access to laundry facilities, community space, a playground and off-street parking. The single-family homes will have washer/dryer hook-ups, off-street parking and a full basement.

The developer, Providence Housing Development Corporation, is a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester. Providence Housing develops, finances and manages housing for individuals and families in the twelve counties of the Diocese of Rochester. Providence Housing has developed more than 922 units of affordable housing and manages 756 units of tax-credit housing. The contractor for the campus is LECESSE Construction and the single-family homes will be built by Atlas Contractors. The architect is SWBR Architects & Engineers, PC. Civil Engineers are Costich Engineering and Stantec Consultants.

Providence Housing’s most recently completed project is Paul Wolk Commons, a mixed-use community facility that combines affordable housing units with a mental health treatment apartment program located in the heart of Rochester on State Street.