Ground was broken Tuesday in converting the former School 75 in Buffalo’s Emslie neighborhood into affordable housing units, half of which will go to house formerly homeless veterans and military service –disabled individuals.
Considered a neighborhood blight, the re-purposing of School 75 can be seen as a positive sign of neighborhood development said Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson, who grew up in the neighborhood.
“This project adds to ongoing renaissance of Buffalo,” he said. “As affordable housing is the bedrock of any up and coming community. The veterans housing project ensures what is being delivered to our veterans is something that adds value to the community.”
W.N.Y. Veterans Housing Coalition Inc. President and C.E.O. Gigi Grizanti said it took a neighborhood, city, state, federal support and more to turn the vision into a reality.
“After many years of planning, false starts, a decade in the making,” she said. “We are excited for the opportunity to transform this neighborhood and replace a deserted school and several vacant properties into a thriving building and add these beautiful two and three bedroom homes you see going up around you, providing homes for our veterans, their families and others.”
The homes Grizanti alludes to are the new houses being built along Adams and Howard Streets.
