CICERO, N.Y. — Construction of Monarch Commons — a $15 million, 50-unit housing development for seniors in the town of Cicero — is now complete. It’s located at 8701 Knowledge Lane (formerly 8697 Brewerton Road). The energy-efficient development includes 15 supportive homes for veterans dealing with homelessness, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul said in […]
CICERO, N.Y. — Construction of Monarch Commons — a $15 million, 50-unit housing development for seniors in the town of Cicero — is now complete.
It’s located at 8701 Knowledge Lane (formerly 8697 Brewerton Road).
The energy-efficient development includes 15 supportive homes for veterans dealing with homelessness, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an Oct. 25 announcement.
The development consists of a single, two-story building with 48 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments. All apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income, per Hochul’s office.
State financing for the $15 million Monarch Commons included $12 million in federal low-income housing tax credits and $2.5 million in subsidies from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. NYSERDA offered $175,000 in support as well. Additional financing has been provided by the CDS Wolf Foundation and the Central New York Community Foundation. CDS Monarch of Rochester is the developer and operator.
“Monarch Commons provides 50 secure, affordable, and energy-efficient homes for older New Yorkers and veterans in a growing and thriving suburban community,” RuthAnne Visnauskas, commissioner of NYS Homes and Community Renewal, said in a statement. “Thank you to our partners at [the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance], CDS Monarch, and Soldier On for their work on this project that will improve lives and expand the housing supply in Onondaga County at this critical time for Central New York’s economy.”
Each apartment includes storage space, modern kitchen amenities and a patio or balcony. Bathrooms are equipped with grab bars and emergency pull cords to facilitate aging in place by the development’s senior population. Building amenities also include a lounge, community room, exercise room, and computer room. The building features a dedicated office space and separate meeting area for Soldier On, the supportive-service provider to Monarch Commons’ veteran population.
New York State Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D–Cicero) was among those attending the Oct. 25 ceremony.
“This new housing not only expands access to shelter for our seniors and veterans in Onondaga County but also provides them with the supportive services they need to thrive in their new homes,” Stirpe said in a release. “This project is a bold step forward in our commitment to ensure that all New Yorkers have a roof over their heads, and I thank Governor Hochul for supporting this vital development.”
Monarch Commons complements Hochul’s $25 billion housing plan that will create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, the governor’s office said. They include 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes, it added.