DHCR Awards $750,000 for Creighton Storey Homes

ALBANY, NY (06/29/2007)(readMedia)-- State Housing Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen today announced an award of $750,000 for the Albany Housing Authority to help modernize and upgrade apartments and amenities at Creighton Storey Homes. In all, the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has provided $3.7 million to redevelop the 128 unit facility.

"New York's public housing portfolio is a critical resource for thousands of senior citizens and low and moderate-income families,” VanAmerongen said. "The awards we are announcing today will help extend the useful lives of these developments and provide continued stability for the families who live there."

Commissioner VanAmerongen said the awards “reflect Governor Spitzer’s commitment to the preservation of affordable housing. The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), as the administrator of this portfolio, is employing every resource at our disposal to carry out the Governor’s mandate.”

The awards were approved Tuesday by the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation, which is chaired by DHCR Commissioner VanAmerongen.

In all, nearly $10 million in public housing modernization funding was awarded by the Housing Trust Fund. The modernization program is an important source of funding for the State's portfolio of public housing. The grants are used to replace or repair roofs, heating systems and ventilation work, renovate elevators, plumbing systems, modernize bathrooms and kitchens, replace existing windows and install storm windows. Improvements to a development may also include masonry re-pointing and repair, upgrading of electrical systems, landscaping, lead testing and asbestos abatement.

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