Beechwood Family Apartments formally celebrated the start of construction with a groundbreaking event on July 1. The project will bring 54 affordable, high-quality apartments across 21 newly constructed buildings to Beechwood, offering a mix of single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes.
Funded in part by $8.4 million awarded by New York State, the development will serve families earning up to 30, 50 and 60 percent of the area median income. The homes will be scattered throughout the neighborhood, with construction taking place on streets including Webster Avenue, Garson Avenue, Chamberlain Street, Ackerman Street, Parsells Avenue and East Main Street.
“We designed these apartments to have two bedrooms, three bedrooms and four bedrooms — those are housing types that are difficult to find … a little bit more expensive to build, harder to find space for,” Allen said. “So this is a really momentous project for Home Leasing, for this neighborhood, for the city, and we’re really really proud to be a part of this.”
The apartments will feature air conditioning, heat pump water heaters and electric appliances like a dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer and oven, according to Home Leasing’s website. Water, trash and internet will also be paid for by the company.
Other amenities include a full-time property management and maintenance staff and a neighborhood office.
Event speakers included Home Leasing Development Manager Lindsey Allen, Mayor Malik D. Evans, Connected Communities Executive Director Dr. LaShunda Leslie-Smith, Director of RBC Capital Markets Stephen Lee, Keith Cleary of ESL Federal Credit Union and Lenny Skrill, assistant commissioner at New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The ceremony was moderated by Home Leasing CEO Megan Houppert.
Units he’d live in, mayor says
Mayor Evans spoke about the partnership between the city, Home Leasing, Connected Communities and other housing organizations that helped make the project a success. He added that he has only “one test” when it comes to assessing housing in Rochester.
“It is — would I want myself and my family to live there?” Evans said. “If the mayor wouldn’t want to live there with his family, then no one else should have to.”
Evans affirmed that the Beechwood Family Apartments meet that standard: high-quality, safe, affordable and modern.
Dr. Leslie-Smith reflected on Connected Communities’ role as a nonprofit partner in the project. In 2019, they conducted a parcel-by-parcel analysis, speaking directly with neighbors about what they envisioned for vacant lots around them.
At the time, there were more than 140 vacant units in the area. Today, as a result of partnerships with other housing organizations, that number is below 40, she said.
“That is the power of community voice and coordinated efforts of development and investment,” Leslie-Smith said.
It began with talking to neighbors
According to the Connected Communities website, the team has conducted extensive outreach for the project since 2021, including door knocking at over 450 residences, holding six neighborhood coalition meetings, tabling at eight community events and more.
Tammy Westbrook, Beechwood resident and lead resident ambassador with Connected Communities, told the Democrat & Chronicle about the multitude of issues they heard when they first started speaking with neighborhood residents.
“(The residents complained about) the astronomical rent for the living conditions that they were put in — you know, ‘Why am I paying all this rent? Like I don’t even have hot water … or I got a broken window,’” Westbrook said.
Westbrook said they also faced challenges along the way, such as when some residents expressed concerns about the project bringing in renters instead of homeowners. But Westbook emphasized that everybody deserves “good quality” housing and a place to live.
Applications for the Beechwood Family Apartments are now open and will close on July 17. Westbrook said distributing applications to local residents was deeply moving for her.
“You can just see the relief washed over them and that’s what touched me — that made my day,” Westbrook said.
Applications can be picked up at 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 700, Rochester, NY 14604, or requested by calling (833) 455-3273. Completed applications must be mailed to the same address. A lottery will be held at 1 p.m. on July 31 via Microsoft Teams.
— Misha Manjuran Oberoi is a summer intern at the Democrat & Chronicle covering transportation and mobility, and a rising junior at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. You can reach her with any tips or concerns at moberoi@gannett.com. If you have a disability or mobility challenge, have you faced any difficulties accessing or using RTS buses or other local transit services? I’d love to hear your stories!
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Construction begins on Beechwood Family Apartments, bringing 54 affordable homes to Rochester
Reporting by Misha Manjuran Oberoi, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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