City of Rochester
News Release
(Thursday, October 2, 2014) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren, City Neighborhood and Business Development Deputy Commissioner Kathleen Washington, City Councilmember Adam McFadden and New York State Senator Joseph Robach joined owners Sylvia and Sherman Hardy for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the Hardy Park Apartments, located at 191 Jefferson Avenue in southwest Rochester.
“The Hardy Park Apartments project completes the gateway at West Main Street into the Changing of the Scenes Neighborhood…and true to its name, it is a beautiful and welcome change of scenery, said Mayor Warren. “Above aesthetics, Hardy Park increases quality housing options for our residents and enhances the overall community, complementing Voters Block, the Jefferson Avenue Revitalization Street Project and the rehabilitation of many residences in the area. We proudly welcome the Hardy Park Apartments to Jefferson Avenue and we thank the Hardys for their commitment to our city.”
The complete renovation of the 8,300 square-foot structure, built in 1920, was completed in May and by the summer, 9 of the 10 one-bedroom apartments had been rented. Hardy Park was designed to appeal to today’s growing market of residents seeking affordable city living with a strong sense of community.
“There was a unique opportunity to make a sustainable impact in the community where there was a declining market of affordable housing,” said Mr. Hardy. “Growing up in this community gave me a personal understanding of its housing needs, but also a perspective of its past and a vision of what the future can be with targeted investments.”
The Hardy Park Apartments project was funded as a Focused Investment Strategy (FIS) special project through loans from the City of Rochester. The goal of the City’s Focused Investment Strategy is to markedly improve neighborhoods in the city by focusing federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and leveraging other available resources.
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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.