Public and elected officials were among those celebrating the success of a senior housing complex on Buffalo's East Side Friday, a building that will soon reach 100% capacity. True Bethel Estate is a development located next door to True Bethel Baptist Church on East Ferry Street. Joan Spillman, director of the federal Housing and Urban Development field office in Buffalo, says their support allows residents to pay no more than 30 percent of their income to live there.
"We brought approximately $8 million to the development and planning of True Bethel Estates. We will be providing the funding to ensure that the rents remain affordable for the families who live here," said Spillman.
All but one of the apartments are occupied. The final tenant is scheduled to move in December 15 and building staff say there's a waiting list to get in.
Reverend Darius Pridgen celebrated the apartment building, which opened in April, as another example of Buffalo redevelopment, this time on the city's East Side.
"We wanted something that was spectacular to be in this area, something that when you walked in here, you wouldn't know if you were on the East side, the West side, North side or South side. All you knew was that you were in a great facility," said Pridgen.
"There are areas coming back to life on the East side. I want to hear the East side being referred to as being revitalized, revived and renewed."