Jerome Senior Apartments ready for viewing

08/23/2010

By Joanne Beck

BATAVIA ? Despite some architectural challenges, putting a senior-based apartment complex next door to a fitness facility, hospital wellness program, diagnostics center and Office for the Aging now seems like a stroke of genius.

It just happened to work out that three floors of the former St. Jerome Hospital were vacant for the project, said Dan Ireland, vice president of operations at United Memorial Medical Center.

"There are always surprises when going into a structure that's already there," he said Wednesday during a tour of the new Jerome Senior Apartments at 18 Bank St. "It turned out to be an ideal location."

Public tours will be available during the hospital's health fair from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, 16 Bank St.

Construction on the apartment project began in October 2009. It has been a collaboration of the hospital and Conifer Realty, with help from Batavia Housing Authority, YMCA and Genesee County's Office for the Aging to spread the word of the new residential opportunity. About half of the 37 units have been taken so far, Conifer Vice President Eric Stevens said.

Qualified applicants need to meet income eligibility requirements and be at least 55 years old. There are one- and two-bedroom units and some of them are handicap/wheelchair accessible, with lowered countertops and stove controls and a roll-in shower.

During the tour, Stevens talked about the typical "punch list" that still has to be completed. That includes putting up light fixtures, making sure there are no leaks with the plumbing system and cleaning up the area.

The tour really began at the resident's door, which greeted visitors with a brushed nickel doorknocker and new-fangled lock. In lieu of the traditional cut-out key, everyone will get a key fob, which is placed against a circular device that will unlock the door.

Once inside, there were bright, cream-colored walls and a light tan berber rug, maple kitchen cabinets, a stove, refrigerator, garbage disposal and dishwasher. Windows seemed especially generous in size and offered a lot of light and a ledge wide enough for books, plants and perhaps a curious cat. Pets are allowed.

Residents will be able to see visitors on TV through a security system throughout the three-floor complex and store personal belongings in an ample storage room, one for each unit. The fourth floor is set up to include space for a computer lab and will have a laundry facility.

There is a spacious community room on the third floor for residents to throw card parties, get-togethers and holiday feasts if they wish. There are plenty of cherry-stained drawers and cupboards to store kitchen utensils and other items and the room will feature a flat-screen TV, tables and chairs.

A fitness room will soon have treadmills, elliptical trainers, free weights, a TV and potentially other equipment based on resident need, Stevens said. Healthy Living staff will be available to offer fitness and nutrition classes and there will be a maintenance supervisor around for repairs and a site manager during the day about four days a week.

Bedrooms are equipped with pull cords for emergencies. They are set up to an emergency answering service for when the manager wouldn't be available, Stevens said. After all, the site is "for independent living," versus an assisted living facility.

Other than the maintenance and manager staff, residents will be on their own as they mold the complex into a home all their own, Stevens said.

"Every property develops its own personality," he said. "I know if I was a resident, I'd be eating at the cafe."

The complex covers the third, fourth and fifth floors. It is adjacent to hospital facilities, which include a secured floor for the Hope Haven program and the new diagnostics center and a hospital cafe downstairs.

For more information, call (585) 345-4180.

New Community draws a flood of Applications!

08/23/2010

LOWER TOWNSHIP ? The 90-unit Conifer Village, an $18.9 million project to build affordable housing for senior citizens, is preparing to open in September and has received an influx of applications, officials involved with the project say.

The three-story housing complex, on Bayshore Road near Townbank Road in the North Cape May section of Lower Township, is one of several in the area that are directly aimed at senior citizens on low, fixed incomes.

Charles Lewis, vice president of development for Conifer Realty LLC in Mount Laurel, said the facility for seniors 62 and older drew more than 200 applications in the first two weeks of registration.

?Everywhere in South Jersey we see tremendous demand,? he said. ?We have a senior development in Medford. It?s only 36 units but we received over 200 applications. It?s particularly acute in Cape May County, where there aren?t many apartments and there are even fewer affordable apartments.?

Each unit has a living room with a dining area, a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, and porch or patio. The overall facility has a community room, exercise room, hair salon lounge and laundry area, Lewis said.

Construction started last year, but the project was planned for nearly five years, Lewis said.

Elizabeth Bozzelli, director of the Cape May County Department of Aging, has endorsed the project, as well as a similar one ? Haven House in Lower Township, which opened in 2008 ? to address the area?s high senior citizen population.

The problem of low-income senior housing became more acute in the past decade as older multiunit apartments in the Wildwoods were replaced with townhouses, she said.

Seniors who had lived there had trouble finding new rental homes, Bozzelli said. Those who could not moved in with children, siblings or left the area, she added.

The need remains strong in Cape May County, Bozzelli said, particularly for seniors wanting to downsize but finding few options for smaller rental units in the area.

?There still is just not enough,? she said.

Cape May County has 96,091 residents, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2009.

Nearly 22 percent are 65 and older, compared with 13.5 percent throughout the state of New Jersey.

The Diocese of Camden, for example, operates similar senior citizen housing in Cape May County, including the 76-unit Haven House and Victorian Towers in Cape May.

The Diocesan Housing Services Corp. has also been planning a 74-unit complex on 16 acres near Route 47 in Rio Grande, Middle Township.

The projects themselves, which are often subsidized by state and federal funding, can be controversial because they involve a payment in lieu of taxes based on rents, not directly on property taxes.

In Lower Township, Conifer?s Lewis said the company expects people to start moving in on Sept. 15, pending the required certificates of occupancy.

Lower Township Construction Official Gary Playford said the complex is awaiting a certificate of occupancy before people can move in. The company is trying to get temporary COs by the month?s end, he said.

Contact Brian Ianieri:

609-463-6713

BIanieri@pressofac.com

Clifton Park Accepting Applications

07/07/2010

A new apartment complex in Rexford targeted at lower-income adults 55 and older is accepting applications as construction nears completion.

MeadowView at Clifton Park Senior Apartments, on Waite Road off Route 146, is expected to be ready for occupancy this autumn. The 70-unit project includes 64 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments.

To qualify, annual income must not exceed $32,700 for single occupants or $37,320 for double occupants. The apartment complex offers an exercise room, computer lab, community room and laundry facility. the complex is being developed by Conifer Realty LLC of Rochester. Rents are expected to range from $563 to $647 for one-bedroom apartments and $664 to $764 for two-bedroom units. Contact Mike Steurer at 383-3803 or by e-mail at cliftonpark@coniferllc.com.

www.timesunion.com

NAHMA Announces Affordable top 100

06/18/2010

www.nahma.org

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The NEW Conifer Village at Eastview OPEN HOUSE

06/08/2010

June 8, 2010, Victor, NY- Conifer Village at Eastview is hosting an OPEN HOUSE for visitors to preview the beautifully updated apartments this Friday June 11th and Saturday June 12th from 10 am - 2 pm. Guests will get the first peek at the incredible improvements underway at the Community for persons 55 and older.

The New Conifer Community is unique to Rochester as it caters to the Active Adult who enjoys living a vibrant lifestyle and is ready to give up the hassles of home ownership expenses. Located just a brief walk from the entrance to Eastview Mall, residents will have easy access to the thruway and highways, local recreation offerings and more. Conifer Village has just what people have been searching for including Fresh Design Features, Amenities and an Incredible Location! Smoke Free Apartments will be available!

Conifer Village is The Right Choice at The RIGHT PRICE! One Bedrooms will be starting at just $920 month. Rent Includes heat and hot water, numerous amenities such as Exercise Room, Club House with Internet access, Move Ins are expected in Mid July. Everyone is invited to the OPEN HOUSE!

For more information, call us today at 585-223-2673 or check us out at www.conifervillageeastview.com

Ribbon Cutting Event

05/12/2010

Loch Sheldrake, New York - Newly renovated Lake View Apartments and Barkley Gardens Senior Apartments celebrates its completion on Friday, May 14, 2010 at 11:00 am. The community is invited to a reception and tours of both communities which will be offered immediately following the ribbon cutting. Lake View Apartments (formerly known as Woodland Townhomes), is a family development located at 5 Woodland Townhouse Road, Loch Sheldrake, New York. Barkley Gardens Apartments is a senior development located at 280 North Main Street, Liberty, New York. The communities are approximately four miles apart.

Nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, Lake View and Barkley Gardens offer four seasons of ubiquitous outdoor recreation opportunities as well as walking distance to shopping and other amenities.

Senator Bonacic said "Affordable, well-built housing is an essential part of every quality community. The improvements to Woodland Townhomes and Barkley Gardens Apartments will improve the lives of the residents of these developments. I look forward to continuing to work in support of better housing in Sullivan County, and throughout our entire region. "

Speakers include:
Brandyn Perdelwitz, Senior Vice President, Bank of America
Mr. Mike Skrebutenas, DHCR Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Housing
Legislator Leni Binder Minority Leader, Sullivan County 7th District Legislature
Hon. Sen. John J. Bonacic, New York State 42nd Senatorial District
Mr. Andrew Crossed, Executive Vice President, Conifer Realty, LLC


Directions to Ribbon Cutting and Press Conference:
Lake View Apartments are located at 5 Woodland Townhouse Road, Loch Sheldrake, New York 12759. From NYS Route 52, turn onto Karmel Road and right onto Woodland Townhouse Road.

Directions to Barkley Gardens Apartments:
From Lake View Apartments, follow NYS Route 52 North to left on North Main Street in Liberty, New York. Driving time is approximately 10 minutes.

Community Development Specifics
Lake View Apartments
# of Units: 60 Affordable Family
Unit Type: 2 Bedroom, 3 Bedroom, 4 Bedroom Townhouses
Developer: Conifer Realty, LLC
Architect: Harris A. Sanders, Architects, P.C.
Contractor: Conifer-LeChase Construction, LLC
Construction Lender: New York State Housing Finance Agency
Equity Financing: Bank of America
Financing: New York State Housing Trust Fund Subsidy Funds
New York State Housing Finance Agency Tax Exempt Bonds
4% Tax Credits

Barkley Gardens
# of Units: 51 Affordable Senior
Unit Type: Studios & 1 Bedrooms Apartments
Developer: Conifer Realty, LLC
Architect: Harris A. Sanders, Architects, P.C.
Contractor: Conifer-LeChase Construction, LLC
Construction Lender: NYS HFA
Equity Financing: Bank of America
Financing: New York State Housing Trust Fund Subsidy Funds
New York State Housing Finance Agency Tax Exempt Bonds
4% Tax Credits

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Innovator of the Year Award

05/05/2010

Conifer Realty Receives Innovator of the Year Award from
New York State Association for Affordable Housing for
Hamilton Apartments Preservation Project

Rochester, NY - Conifer Realty, LLC has received the 2010 Innovator of the Year Award from the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH) for the Hamilton Apartments, a project that preserved, redeveloped, and transformed a 13-story, 202-unit structure that was part of the former River Park Commons on Mt. Hope Avenue, near downtown Rochester.

The Innovator of the Year Award - presented on April 29th at the NYSAFAH Annual Conference at the Marriott Marquis in New York City - was received by Conifers' Tim Fournier, President & CEO, and Allen Handelman, Project Director. "The Hamilton Apartments project was a demanding, time-consuming, and ultimately extremely rewarding undertaking for Conifer," said Fournier. "It's a tribute to the vision of our Chairman Richard J. Crossed, and the persistence and dedication of everyone in our company. It was a true team effort that demonstrated how the Conifer and Conifer-LeChase organizations can achieve great things and make outstanding contributions to affordable housing in our community."

The Innovator Award, presented annually by NYSAFAH, recognizes companies and individuals who have "broken new ground" in terms of developing ideas and projects that significantly advance the cause of affordable housing in New York State. NYSAFAH, formed in 1998, is a trade association for private sector organizations involved in affordable housing.

The redevelopment of the Hamilton Apartments began in 2004 when Conifer acquired the former River Park Commons complex, located directly on the Genesee River. The property, in a state of financial and social disrepair, also was designed and built in a manner that isolated residents from the river and the community, and blocked access to the river. Working with area organizations and the City of Rochester, Conifer proposed a redevelopment plan that included rehabilitation of the building at 185 Mt. Hope Ave. that would become the Hamilton Apartments.

"The success of the Hamilton Apartments is the result of collaborative efforts by local, state and federal government agencies, civic action and the entrepreneurial skills of Conifer and our partners," said Crossed. "We've created a catalyst for civic pride, helped to renew the entire area, and designed a building that is already becoming an icon and gem on Rochester's riverfront. The bottom line is that the Hamilton Apartments exemplify the many positive outcomes that can be created through current housing policies and private/public partnerships."

For more information about the Innovation Award, the Hamilton Apartments, and Conifer, please contact Sandy Gorie, Marketing Director, at 585.324.0511, or by e-mail at sgorie@coniferllc.com.