The Center City Courtyard, a $72 million affordable and supportive housing development in downtown Rochester, has been completed. The project was developed by HELPDevCo and CSD Housing, LLC, resulting in 164 affordable apartments. Of these, 95 units are designated for veterans and individuals facing homelessness.
Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Center City Courtyard is a shining example of how we can transform underutilized spaces into vibrant, sustainable developments that provide safe, affordable homes for working families and supportive services for those at risk of homelessness, including our veterans. I’m proud of the partnerships that made this possible and am committed to building even more housing that replicates opportunities like this across New York.”
The new five-story building was constructed on a former parking lot on West Main Street. All apartments are reserved for households earning no more than 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Residents in the 95 supportive units will receive on-site services and rental subsidies through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI), administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Helio Health, the Urban League of Rochester, and Eagle Star Housing are providing these services.
The building is all-electric and designed to meet several energy efficiency standards such as U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Homes criteria. Features include a rooftop solar array and efficient air source heat pumps.
Amenities available to residents include free internet access, a fitness center, a fifth-floor terrace, and a landscaped courtyard with seating areas. Nearly 3,000 square feet have been allocated as office space for service providers.
Funding sources for Center City Courtyard include over $30 million in equity from Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Programs managed by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), $28 million in HCR subsidy, nearly $8 million from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, annual operating funding from OMH totaling $2.3 million plus a one-time grant of $250,000 for program development, more than $900,000 through the Clean Energy Initiative (a partnership between HCR and NYSERDA), as well as $1 million from city HOME funds.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas stated: “Center City Courtyard exemplifies the transformative power of smart investments in affordable, energy-efficient housing, turning a vacant parking lot into 164 modern homes that provide stability for working families and critical supportive services for those at risk of homelessness, including our veterans. Through HCR’s financing of nearly $60 million alongside partnerships with OMH, OTDA and NYSERDA, we’re not only advancing Governor Hochul’s $25 billion Housing Plan — on pace to deliver 100,000 affordable homes statewide — but are also building on Rochester’s continued revitalization.”
Doreen M. Harris from NYSERDA added: “The completion of Center City Courtyard is a tremendous achievement for the Rochester community and sets a great example for clean, modern housing that is affordable for residents. By investing in projects like this, we are expanding opportunities for all New Yorkers to live in healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient homes while revitalizing our neighborhoods and cities.”
Dr. Ann Sullivan from OMH said: “Supportive housing often plays a critical role in the recovery journey of New Yorkers living with mental illness. Center City Courtyard marks the transformation of a parking lot into dozens of much-needed supportive housing units that offer vital services for residents facing the threat of homelessness. This affordable housing will provide the resources and support necessary for more Rochester residents to live and thrive in their community. Projects like this affirm Governor Hochul’s commitment to expanding access to services and support for vulnerable New Yorkers during their recovery.”
Barbara C. Guinn from OTDA commented: “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State has made landmark investments to expand the supply of permanent supportive housing options across the state recognizing that stable housing is the foundation for healthier lives and stronger communities. The opening of Center City Courtyard in downtown Rochester provides Monroe County residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness including veterans with stable affordable homes and on-site access to vital support services that will help them remain housed live independently and thrive in their community.”
Senator Chuck Schumer noted: “Every family in Rochester deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. I’m proud that the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit that I worked hard to protect and expand has delivered millions to help build more than 160 units in downtown Rochester that will be accessible to those at risk of homelessness including veterans These newly constructed apartments will be energy-efficient and include key support to vulnerable residents including on-site services and rental subsidies High housing costs are a key driver of inflation so we must build more housing for working people to bring down those high prices I applaud Governor Hochul’s work increasing access to affordable housing in Monroe Countyand across New Yorkand I will continue workingto deliver federal resourcesto deliver moreaffordablehousingacrossNewYork”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stated: “Skyrocketing housing costs have put safe affordable housing outof reachfor far too manyNew Yorkers ThenewCenterCityCourtyardwillprovidesecurehousingforRochesterfamilieswhileofferingmuch-neededassistancetothoseatriskofhomelessnessIamproudtosupportinvestmentslikethisone,andIwillcontinuefightingtomakeaffordablehousingaccessibleforallNewYorkers”
Representative Joe Morelle said: “Safe affordablehousingcreatesopportunityforNewYorkfamiliesWe’reinvestinginnewhomesthatmeettheneedsoffamilieslargeandsmall,fuelinggrowthandvitalityineverycornerofRochesterIdeeplyappreciateGovernorHochul’sleadershipandpartnershipinadvancingthisvision,andIlookforwardtocontinuingourworktogether”
Senator Jeremy Cooney remarked: “Withhomelessnessratesrisinginourcommunity,thecompletionoftheCenterCityCourtyardprojectisexactlywhattheCityofRochesterneedsThankyoutoGovernorHochulandNewYorkStateHomes&CommunityRenewalforprioritizingsustainabilityservicesforat-riskresidents,andstablehigh-qualityhousingforthoseinourcommunitywhoneeditmost”
Assemblymember Demond Meeks said: “CenterCityCourtyardisanimportantinvestmentinourcityBytransformingaparkinglotinto164affordablehomesincluding95unitswithservicesforindividualsatriskofhomelessness,wearehelpingfamiliesandneighborsachievethestabilitythey deserveProjects likethisshowwhat’spossiblewhen thestate localorganizations,andourcommunitycometogethertomakehousingmoreaffordableandaccessibleI’mproudtoseeRochestermovingforwardwithdevelopmentsthatnotonlyprovidearoofoverpeople’sheadsbutsothesupportandopportunityneededtobuildabetterfuture”
County Executive Adam Bello commented: “CenterCityCourtyardwillprovidemuch-neededaffordablehousingoptionsinDowntownRochesterI’mgratefulforGovernorHochul’scontinuedinvestmentinsafeandstablehousingforthemostvulnerableinourcommunityCenterCityCourtyardwilltakethisonestepfurther offering supportive services onsite tomakesureresidentshaveaccesstotheresourcestheyneed”
Mayor Malik Evans added: “I wantto thank Gov HochulandNewYorkStatefortheirstrongsupportandcontinuedinvestmentinRochester’shousingfutureWithCenterCityCourtyard,weseethataffordableandsupportivehousingcanbejustasbeautifulhigh-quality,andfullofamenitiesasmarket-ratedevelopmentsThisprojectshowsthatwhenweinvestinpeoplewestrengthenneighborhoodsrestoredignity,andcreateabrighterfutureforeveryresident”
Michael Dehmler from CSD Housing said,“CSDHousingisdeeplycommittedtoworkingwithournon-profitpartnerstoprovidequalityplacesforpeopletocallhomeThisprojectisparticularlyspecialtousbecauseitisinourhometownofRochesterandhasbeensuchanincrediblepartnershipwiththeCityofRochester,HCROTDAandotherstakeholdersWearehonoredtobeopeningoneofthelargestsupportivehousingprojectsintheStaterighthereinRochester”
David Cleghorn from HELP Development Corp stated,“HELPDevelopmentCorp.isexcitedtocelebratethegrandopeningofCenterCityCourtyard,madepossiblethroughourinvaluablepartnershipwithCSDHousingAsthelargestaffordablesupportivehousingprojectinWesternNewYork CenterCityCourtyardexemplifiesourcommitmenttocreativetransformative,safe,andaffordablehousingrightintheheartofdowntownRochesterWeareproudtoplayaroleinshapingabrighterfutureforourcommunity”
Kathleen Gaffney-Babb from Helio Health commented,“HelioHealthisexcitedtopartnerwithCSDHousingandHELPDevelopmentCorptobringmuchneededhousingtocitizensofRochesterTogetherwiththeUrbanLeagueofRochesterandEagleStarHousing ,weareproudtosayWelcomeHometothemanywhowillreceivehighqualityaffordablehousingatCenterCityCourtyard”
Zachary Fuller from Eagle Star Housing added,“EagleStarHousingishonoredtojoinourdedicatedpartners—CSDHousingandHelpDevelopmentCorp.—inbringingtheCenterCityCourtyardprojecttolifeThisinitiativeisatestoftothepowerofcollaborationandthetransformativeimpactofinvestinginourcommunitiesWearedeeplygratefultoGovernorHochulandNewYorkStatefortheirunwaveringcommitmenttoexpandingaccesstoaffordablehousingaddressingacriticalneed,andhelpingNewYorkersbuildbrightermorestablefutures”
According to state officials’ recent statements about policy initiatives related to increasing affordability statewide through tax incentives https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-landmark-housing-agreement-secured-fy-2025-enacted-budget capital funding https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-landmark-housing-agreement-secured-fy-2025-enacted-budget new protections https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-landmark-housing-agreement-secured-fy-2025-enacted-budget voucher programs https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-delivers-results-making-new-york-more-affordable-and-livable-all-new-yorkers#:~:text=The%20FY%2026%20Enacted%20Budget%20includes%20more%20than%20%241.,policies%20to%20improve%20tenant%20protections , targeted funding allocations https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-delivers-results-making-new-york-more-affordable-and-livable-all-new-yorkers#:~:text=The%20FY26-,Enacted,-Budget%20includes , Pro-Housing Community certification https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/350-communities-across-new-york-achieve-pro-housing-certification-including-new-york-city-rochester , tens-of-thousands additional homes have been created or preserved under recent budgets.
More than 65,000 homes have already been created or preserved as part of ongoing efforts under these policies.
