City of Utica announces residential rehabilitation program

UTICA, N.Y. — Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri — in partnership with the HomeOwnershipCenter — has announced the implementation of a residential-rehabilitation program, which is part of the Utica Prosperity Initiative.

The $2 million of funding will cover up to $25,000 of eligible exterior housing-rehabilitation costs for landlords and homeowners who live in “financially distressed” districts and were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Residential rehabilitation is vital to community development and has ancillary benefits,” Palmieri said in a statement. “When a resident improves the condition of their home, it improve the entire block and neighborhood. We want to do everything possible to encourage home improvements, and I commend the HomeOwnershipCenter for helping to develop this important program.”

Palmieri earlier this year announced the Utica Prosperity Initiative, a framework for the city to achieve “substantive and sustainable impact by utilizing resources to address the needs of the community.” As part of the initiative, the city solicited public input to determine the community’s top priorities, projects and programs.

In June, the city unveiled the Utica Prosperity Initiative’s Phase I projects, one of which was the creation of a residential-rehabilitation program to help residents repair and improve their homes.

More information about the program, including eligibility and to sign up for notification of application availability, can be found at the HomeOwnershipCenter’s website http://unhs.org, or by calling (315) 724-4197.

The city will soon be unveiling the Utica Prosperity Initiative’s Phase II projects.