HERKIMER, N.Y. — Crews recently completed a $20 million renovation of the Eastern Gardens Apartments in the village of Herkimer in Herkimer County. Now known as Stone Ridge Mills, the rehabilitated public-housing development offers 63 new energy-efficient and affordable homes for families, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul. Built […]
HERKIMER, N.Y. — Crews recently completed a $20 million renovation of the Eastern Gardens Apartments in the village of Herkimer in Herkimer County.
Now known as Stone Ridge Mills, the rehabilitated public-housing development offers 63 new energy-efficient and affordable homes for families, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Built in 1954, the original apartment complex included seven two-story buildings with 48 apartments. Rehabilitation work included new roofs and siding, energy-efficient windows, open floor plans, upgraded security systems, high-efficiency lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, new kitchens and bathrooms, and Energy Star appliances.
Construction crews also built an additional two-story building with 15 new apartments. All buildings meet the standards of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority’s low-rise residential new construction program, EPA’s Performance Path with Energy Star, and those of Enterprise Green Communities, the release noted.
Stone Ridge Mills features 14 one-bedroom, 34 two-bedroom, 10 three-bedroom, and five four-bedroom apartments. Most apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 50 percent of the area median income.
The complex includes eight fully accessible apartments for mobility-impaired residents and five fully accessible apartments for hearing/vision impaired residents. Seven apartments are set aside for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Stone Ridge Mills is located near public transportation, shopping, a bank, hospital, and Herkimer College. An existing Head Start facility that provides free on-site programs for children is being relocated from the community building to another Herkimer Housing Authority property, Stone Ridge Daycare, so that the building can be returned for use as community space. The rehabilitated community building now has energy-efficient mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire-suppression systems, and accessible laundry facilities, as well as new playgrounds and sidewalks.
The project developer is the Herkimer Housing Authority with Edgemere serving as housing consultant. State financing for the development came through New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s (HCR) allocation of federal and state low-income housing tax credits that generated nearly $16 million in equity and
$2.4 million from the Public Housing Preservation program. An additional $1.3 million was awarded by HCR through the Rural and Urban Community Investment Fund to finance the relocation and upgrade of the Head Start facility. NYSERDA also provided $63,000 in funding.
