More new housing is going up near the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. State and local elected officials and religious leaders officially broke ground Friday, December 14, 2012 for 49-new townhomes at the corner of Maple and Virginia Streets in Buffalo. St. John Fruit Belt Community Development Corporation consultant John Lewis said the $15-million faith-based initiative will also create jobs in the community.
"This is a model that has the potential to transfer urban communities throughout the country," said Lewis. "St. John's has been in this community for 85-years. And that puts the church in a special position to have impact, socially, with people that live in this community."
The project includes 17-energy efficient buildings with two, three and four-bedroom townhomes. New York state is providing just over $2-millions in funding along with low income housing tax credits. And the City of Buffalo is providing just under $3-million in funding.