Officials dig in at city housing project
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Affordable housing has found a home in the city of Dunkirk.
On Thursday afternoon, state Gov. Kathy Hochul led a press conference at the future location of The Homesteads at Dunkirk Landing, which includes the Third and Fourth streets site near the Save A-Lot Plaza. Following remarks, Hochul and local officials used numerous shovels to break ground on the project.
In her second stop in the north county during Thursday afternoon, Hochul spoke of her support for the project, which will set aside 16 of the 78 apartment units for formerly homeless veterans. She recalled a visit to Afghanistan while she was in Congress and speaking to those in the U.S. military.
In the midst of combat with the Taliban, they told her their greatest worry was their return to America. "They were worried about coming home and not having a job or a place to live. Now this was years ago but it broke my heart to think this is a stress point for people in our military who are in harm's way to defend our freedom and our flag."
Hochul recalled the homeless rate among veterans was 20% during that time.
Larry Regan, who's heading the project, thanked the governor, Chautauqua County and the city of Dunkirk for its support. As part of the development, a child care facility will be part of The Homesteads that allows parents to work.
"We like to build day care in every development we do," Regan said. "It serves not only the tenants in our development, but the surrounding community."
The project will consist of two new buildings located within two blocks of one another on Washington Avenue and on East Fourth Street. The Washington Avenue building will contain 48 apartments, while the East Fourth Street building will contain 30 apartments. Both sites are located within Dunkirk's Brownfield Opportunity and Downtown Revitalization Initiative areas, replacing vacant and blighted properties.
Vince DeJoy, city director of Planning and Development, called the effort the first of many that focuses on new Dunkirk housing that will benefit not only residents, but growing businesses that include Wells Enterprises and ImmunityBio. "Good housing is foundational to our revitalization in Dunkirk," he said, praising Hochul's investment in the north county that included a 2023 Downtown Reinvestment Initiative funding of $10 million.