A newly-formed partnership between Belmont Housing Resources for WNY and Canisius College is launching the Hamlin Park Initiative, a community development effort designed to improve the condition of homes in the immediate vicinity of the College while increasing the level of owner-occupied housing in the neighborhood.

Under the project's recently-announced plans, Belmont will oversee the rehabilitation of eight residential properties acquired by Canisius in past years for use as student housing. Once the houses have been fully remodeled, the non-profit organization will be responsible for marketing them for sale as owner-occupied homes.

"Homeowners are the key ingredient to maintaining vital and vibrant neighborhoods in Buffalo," says Canisius College President John J. Hurley. "This is a privately-financed, market-driven approach that will foster home ownership in an area that is very important to us."

According to Belmont Vice-President for Housing Development Michael D. Riegel, the first phase of the project will focus on the rehabilitation of two properties located adjacent to the College at 17 Glendale Avenue and 231 Humboldt Parkway. The net proceeds from the initial and subsequent sales will be committed to funding the renovation and sale of the other selected properties.

As a privately-funded project, buyers will not be required to meet income limits to be eligible. Those who do purchase houses rehabilitated by the Initiative, however, will be subject to restrictions written into the properties' deeds mandating that the homes remain owner-occupied for at least 15 years. In the case of multiple dwellings, purchasers may rent out units but still must occupy the property as their primary residence.

"Canisius clearly shares our organization's commitment to improving the quality of our region's existing housing and expanding homeownership," notes Riegel, citing the school's longtime support for housing opportunity both in Hamlin Park and throughout Buffalo, including its sponsorship of the area's first Employer-Assisted Housing Program, its forgivable loan program for Canisius employees buying homes in the city, and its donation of two other houses in the Hamlin Park area to Habitat for Humanity. "We're proud to be working with them on a project that will move us all significantly closer to achieving those goals."

"The Hamlin Park Initiative is part of Canisius College's commitment to the neighborhood we have called home for 100 years," adds Canisius President Hurley. "We hope that it will spur other initiatives to increase the number of owner-occupiers in the neighborhood."

Additional information about the Hamlin Park Initiative and Belmont's other Community Development activities is available by contacting the organization at (716) 884-2358 Ext. 154 • TDD 711.