Governor Paterson Announces Sustainable Neighborhoods Program Is Moving Forward

ALBANY, NY (02/10/2010)(readMedia)-- Governor David A. Paterson today announced that his Sustainable Neighborhoods initiative is moving quickly, with officials from the Governor's office and nine State agencies scheduled to tour potential revitalization investment sites with local stakeholders.

"When I announced the Sustainable Neighborhoods program in my State of the State address last month, I proposed that it would serve as a national model for urban revitalization, and a critical part of our economic recovery plan, making investments in both job creation and affordable housing development. I am proud to announce that my staff and the necessary State agencies have quickly laid the groundwork for this initiative to move forward and we are on track to take full advantage of the coming construction season," Governor Paterson said. "By working closely with officials and stakeholders in Buffalo, we have swiftly identified potential neighborhoods where we can target our resources and make the improvements that will help revitalize Western New York."

Governor Paterson first announced his Sustainable Neighborhoods initiative during his 2010 State of the State address. This initiative will work to create new, affordable, high quality homeownership opportunities by rehabilitating vacant and abandoned buildings and making them available to first-time homebuyers. The Governor has instructed State agencies to identify challenges to revitalization and determine the programs that best fit the goal of the Sustainable Neighborhoods initiative. State agency experts will work with local community development officials to facilitate these projects and establish clear goals for each new sustainable neighborhood.

Acting Commissioner of the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) Brian Lawlor said: "Governor Paterson's initiative is a new and innovative way to address the vacant building crisis that is hurting economic development and revitalization efforts in our upstate cities. The program fosters collaboration between diverse State agencies and with local governments in order to strategically align scarce government resources."

The City of Buffalo, with more than 23,000 vacant housing units, was selected to serve as the starting point for the Sustainable Neighborhoods project which will expand to cities across New York State. The Governor's staff will join Aaron Bartley, the Executive Director of PUSH Buffalo, and Michael Clarke, the Executive Director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation, in leading State agency officials on a walking tour of the Massachusetts Avenue Corridor on Buffalo's West Side.

The agencies involved in the Sustainable Neighborhoods program include DHCR, the Housing Finance Agency, the Empire State Development Corporation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Department of Transportation, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of State, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

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