Celebration, A Welcome, and Dreams Come True
On Tuesday, January 24, 2006, Rural Ulster Preservation Company and Kingston Mayor James Sottile hosted an open house at 48 & 58 Van Buren Street, in Kingston. The open house was a celebration of the completion of 2 new, affordable homes and an opportunity to welcome the families that will achieve the American dream of homeownership and call the houses home.
Kim Griffith, a single mother of 3, will soon call 48 Van Buren Street home. Ms. Griffith enrolled in Rural Ulster Preservation Company's Neighborworks ® HomeOwnership Center's First Home Club Matched Savings Program, which will assist her with closing costs. In addition to the excitement of owning her first home, Ms. Griffith is happy to be buying a home on Van Buren Street where other members of her family reside.
Tanyikia Davis a single mother of 2 young boys and will be purchasing 58 Van Buren Street. Ms. Davis moved into Rural Ulster Preservation Company's Hasbrouck Avenue property in 2000, a property that provides permanent rental housing to homeless families. Ms. Davis participates in Rural Ulster Preservation Company's Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program and Family Self Sufficiency Program. She enrolled in Rural Ulster Preservation Company's Neighborworks®HomeOwnership Center's First Home Club Matched Savings Program after receiving a substantial income tax return in 2005. Ms. Davis took advantage of the local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program, that Rural Ulster Preservation Company is a lead agency of. Both Ms. Davis and Ms. Griffith received counseling and education through Rural Ulster Preservation Company's Neighborworks®HomeOwnership Center's Homebuyer Education Program to ensure their success as homebuyers.
This marks another example of the fruits of public-private partnership between RUPCO, the City of Kingston and other funders to help local families realize the American dream,” said Kevin O'Connor, executive director of RUPCO. “It has truly been a pleasure to work with Mayor Sottile and the City of Kingston to achieve these results! Today demonstrates the success of RUPCO's broad approach to housing and community development and that we can make linkages across our own programs that serve families while improving neighborhoods.”
Rural Ulster Preservation Company acquired 2 vacant lots at 48 & 58 Van Buren Street from the City of Kingston. The parcels had been vacant for numerous years. Rural Ulster Preservation Company constructed 2 modular homes for purchase by income eligible, first time homebuyers, being served by our NeighborWorks®HomeOwnership Center.
The homes were constructed to mirror the original architectural elements of the existing neighborhood homes and offer maintenance free vinyl siding, an architectural shingle roof, with 25 year warranty. Interiors offer 1264 sq. ft. of living space, including 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, oak kitchen cabinetry, Energy Star appliances, ceramic tile & hardwood flooring in the living space and a full basement.
“We are extremely proud that these modular homes look like they have been here for 20 years and that in addition to providing quality homeownership for two families, we have returned these vacant, non-productive lots to the City's tax rolls,” said Mr. O'Connor.
These are the first two homes that RUPCO is developing as part of its $1 million dollar Homeownership Initiative, funded by the NYS Division of Housing and Renewal to build up to 40 homes for first time homebuyers in Ulster County. Additional homes are presently planned for Kingston , Ellenville and Woodstock. Other funding for these Van Buren Street homes includes $70,000 from the City of Kingston's Community Development Block Grant program and funding from NeighborWorks America.
Back to main news page
|
