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Officials Hold Groundbreaking Ceremony For New Affordable Housing Complex In Plattsburgh

Officials celebrate a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Atlas Heights affordable housing community in Plattsburgh
Pat Bradley/WAMC
Officials celebrate a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Atlas Heights affordable housing community in Plattsburgh

A new affordable housing complex is under construction in Plattsburgh.
Officials gathered at the construction site of a new $12.8 million affordable housing development in the Town of Plattsburgh for a formal groundbreaking.  

Atlas Heights is located on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base. It will be a 40-unit complex with three two-story buildings and a single-story community building.   Nine apartments are dedicated for individuals with physical disabilities.  Plattsburgh Housing Authority Executive Director Mark Hamilton says the planning began five years ago.  “It’s going to have a community space with offices for support services. There’s going to be a playground for the children. We’re in walking distance of grocery stores. We’re in walking distance of pharmacies, employment opportunities. And interestingly although it’s in the Town of Plattsburgh borders the city which is another really exciting opportunity for the residents here. So we’re excited for what’s going to happen.

Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman says the project reflects a need across the region.  “We need better stronger housing, affordable housing. And I want you to think just for a moment: yourself. What it means to have a safe place to have your family. This represents so much to the start and the future of the needs of the people that live here, work here, play here.”

State Assemblyman D. Billy Jones of the 115th district says the new housing will also help close a gap in access to transportation, child care and other needs.  “The piece of this that I especially like is they’re doing 14 units for survivors of domestic violence. We all know that a lot of times when people are trying to get out of a situation that housing is one of their biggest obstacles and to give this to these people that are trying to better themselves and better their families is just a wonderful opportunity here and that’s the part that really excites me.”

Project developer Bruce Levine, President of 3d Development Group, calls himself mission driven and a believer in affordable housing.  “What makes this particular project special is the ability to provide housing for victims of domestic violence and the support services that go along with it. But more than that this site is close to services and close to jobs and close to educational sources and we just think it’s going to be a vital housing resource in this community.”

Hamilton explains that the goal of Plattsburgh Community Housing, an affiliate of the Plattsburgh Housing Authority, is to continue to create similar projects.  “What we’re doing now is building the capacity for the Housing Authority to manage these projects so that over the course of the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years as we develop more housing which is the intent we’ll have the ability to manage all of those housing units as well. We’re building our capacity right now.”

Construction on the Atlas Heights complex is expected to be completed in July 2021. New York State Homes and Community Renewal awarded federal Low-income Housing Tax Credits to help fund the project.

 

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