The Village of New Paltz has a new, freshly completed $20 million affordable senior housing development dubbed Harmony Hall.
The 51-unit near downtown New Paltz is geared to assist senior residents in continuing to live independently, and is a part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).
The HCR has created or preserved more than 9,000 affordable homes in the Hudson Valley, 1,200 of which are in Ulster County and 1,000 of which are in Dutchess County.
This Ulster County affordable housing development follows the late May announcement of the $147 million 187-unit mixed-use affordable housing development called Wallace Campus in the City of Poughkeepsie.
Harmony Hall and Wallace Campus are part of Hochul’s $25 billion five-year housing plan, launched in fiscal year 2023. The plan’s goal is to create 100,000 affordable homes statewide, and more than 81,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date.
“New York is leading the way on creating affordable, sustainable and livable homes for residents of all ages,” Hochul said in a statement. “The Hudson Valley is thriving, but we need to make sure New York’s seniors can live in communities they love. Harmony Hall provides an affordable and modern community where these New Yorkers have the amenities and support they need to live independent lives.”
Harmony Hall, an all-electric project, was developed by The Affordable Housing Conservancy, Rockabill Development LLC, and Affordable Housing Concepts, and has rooftop solar panels, as well as a water recapture system to manage stormwater and reduce water consumption.
“Affordable Housing Concepts isn’t just our company name; it’s a statement of who we are,” Affordable Housing Concepts Vice President Keith Libolt said in a statement. “We build quality, environmentally sound housing for our neighbors, our families to stay here in the Hudson Valley, one apartment at a time. Harmony Hall represents the latest refinement of our work, incorporating green design and ease of constructability.”
Households age 62 and older with incomes up to 60% of the Area Median Income will be eligible for units.
“Harmony Hall embodies the Village of New Paltz’s vision of what development should look like: dense, downtown, affordable, and providing housing for our community’s most vulnerable residents — seniors,” Village of New Paltz Mayor Alexandria Wojcik said in a statement. “Seniors deserve the opportunity to age gracefully, in place, right here in paradise, aka New Paltz. Harmony Hall achieves exactly that.”
Harmony Hall’s features for seniors
“Delivering new, inclusive housing and comprehensive senior services to older residents allows them to remain a part of the communities they belong to,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement.
In Harmony Hall, residents will find all units and common areas having no-slip surfaces, hand railings and grab bars.
Walkways have accessibility features like curb cuts with sloped paths so individuals in wheelchairs and walkers can move simply.
Of the 51 units, six can accommodate residents with mobility disabilities and three can accommodate residents with sensory disabilities. Another eight units were reserved by the development team for individuals with physical disabilities. These individuals will be referred to local supportive agencies, including Independent Living, a local nonprofit.
Across the street, a public bus stop and free transportation services, available by the Ulster County’s Office for Aging, will allow seniors shopping opportunities or healthcare visits.
“Harmony Hall is the result of years of collaboration, vision, and commitment to meeting the housing needs for seniors in New Paltz,” New Paltz Town Supervisor Tim Rogers said in a statement. “This beautiful 51-unit affordable apartment building is ideally located in the heart of New Paltz and accessible to amenities and connections that help older adults thrive.”
Nearby, there are pharmacies, grocery stores, retail shops and an art museum.
“Every senior in the Hudson Valley deserves a safe and affordable place to call home,” U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer said in a statement. “I’m proud that the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which I worked to protect and expand, has delivered millions to help build more than 50 new homes for seniors in New Paltz. Harmony Hall includes support that will allow our seniors to live independently.”
How was this funded?
HCR has created new programs to jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes, for renters and homebuyers, including the Pro-Housing Community Program, allowing certified localities access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. The Village of New Paltz is one of the over 420 certified Pro-Housing communities in New York.
The HCR’s programs heavily supported Harmony Hall, including the $10.1 million from the HCR’s Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program, $2.3 million from the HCR’s State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program and $4.7 million from the HCR’s Senior Housing Program.
As well, eight units are receiving Section 8 project-based vouchers administered by HCR.
Ulster County also provided $300,000 through its Housing Action Fund, and the project is supported by around $105,000 in Solar Tax Credits.
“Harmony Hall is one of the first housing projects we supported through the County’s Housing Action Fund, and it is a model project in terms of affordability, sustainability, and the quality of life it supports for its residents,” Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said in a statement. “…This is what responsible housing development should look like, and we were thrilled to provide support to the locally-based Affordable Housing Conservancy for this worthy project.”
Additional support of $382,500 came from the Clean Energy Initiative funding, a partnership between HCR and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
“I hear it from people every day: Costs, especially housing costs, are still way too high,” U.S. Representative Pat Ryan said in a statement. “Building 51 new units of affordable housing for Hudson Valley seniors at Harmony Hall is a huge step forward and will ensure more people can afford to stay in the community they love. I’m grateful to the Governor and our exceptional community partners, especially Ulster County Office for Aging, for helping get this project over the finish line. We have to keep up the fight, because no family, no senior, nobody in the Hudson Valley should have to pick between putting food on the table and having a roof over their head.”
Nickie Hayes is Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: $20M affordable senior housing development completed in New Paltz
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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By Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal | USA TODAY Network
