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Division of Housing & Community Renewal

DHCR News & Events:

DHCR Celebrates Start of Construction at Van Rensselaer Village in Watervliet

Congressman Paul Tonko (left) and Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari join Lynn Kopka, director of DHCR's Capital Region Office, for the ceremonial ground breaking at Van Rensselaer Village. The project, which was assisted through tax credits and funds from the Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) will bring much-needed improvements to the 38 year old housing complex.
Congressman Paul Tonko (left) and Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari join Lynn Kopka, director of DHCR's Capital Region Office, for the ceremonial ground breaking at Van Rensselaer Village. The project, which was assisted through tax credits and funds from the Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) will bring much-needed improvements to the 38 year old housing complex.

Representatives of DHCR recently participated in the official groundbreaking of Van Rensselaer Village in the City of Watervliet. The aging and distressed affordable housing development will benefit from an $18 million rehabilitation, thanks in part to Low Income Housing Tax Credits and federal stimulus funds through Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP), which DHCR administers.

Congressman Paul Tonko, Assemblyman Ron Canestrari, County Executive Mike Breslin, Watervliet Mayor Mike Manning, and Chris Betts, Regional Director of Community Preservation Corporation attended the event, which was hosted by the Watervliet Housing Authority and Omni Development.

Lynn Kopka, DHCR Capital District Regional Director, delivered remarks on behalf of DHCR, thanking Charles Patricelli, Executive Director of the Watervliet Housing Authority and Duncan Barrett of Omni Development for their partnership and dedication to this project.

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Office of Community Renewal Helping to Revitalize City of North Tonawanda

In the lobby of the beautiful Riviera Theatre, from left to right: Tom VanNortwick, DHCR regional director; Mayor Robert Ortt; Jim Sullivan, executive director of LCDC; Angela Johnson from LCDC; Frank Cannata, executive director of the Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center; Maureen Palumbo from the Office of Community Renewal and Chuck Bell, who is also from LCDC.
In the lobby of the beautiful Riviera Theatre, from left to right: Tom VanNortwick, DHCR regional director; Mayor Robert Ortt; Jim Sullivan, executive director of LCDC; Angela Johnson from LCDC; Frank Cannata, executive director of the Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center; Maureen Palumbo from the Office of Community Renewal and Chuck Bell, who is also from LCDC.

The Lumber City Development Corporation (LCDC) has had tremendous success using the New York Main Street and NYS Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) programs to bring new life and vitality to the City of North Tonawanda. LCDC has used NY Main Street funds to rehabilitate the beautiful Riviera Theatre, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and to assist 13 commercial units and make streetscape enhancements.

Last year, LCDC was awarded additional NY Main Street and NYS Community Development Block Grant funds to help purchase and begin the conversion of the vacant "Teddy Bear Building" a 19th century, 3-story structure that most recently housed Teddy Bear Carpets and Fabrics. The building, across the Street from the Riviera Theatre, will house a boutique hotel and restaurant to serve the increasing number of visitors to downtown.

To mark their success and discuss future plans and projects, LCDC and the City of North Tonawanda recently hosted a walking tour of downtown, highlighting their NY Main Street and NYS CDBG endeavors.

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Last Updated: 03/11/10

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