(Binghamton, NY)- Today, Senator Lea Webb (SD52) announced $323,000 in funding has been awarded to certified Pro-Housing Communities in Senate District 52. The Village of Johnson City in Broome County will receive $80,000 and the Town of Ithaca in Tompkins County will receive $243,000 in grant funding to assist in their efforts to increase housing supply. 

“Communities across the Southern Tier are stepping up to address our housing shortage in strategic ways,” said Senator Lea Webb. “This $323,000 investment through New York State Homes and Community Renewal will help local governments strengthen planning efforts, revitalize underutilized properties, and create the conditions needed to build more housing. I’m proud to advocate for resources that help our communities grow in ways that are sustainable, inclusive, and responsive to local needs.”

“For this project the Village of Johnson City will procure a consultant to complete a detailed housing feasibility and site re-use assessment of the former Endicott Johnson 'New Toe Box Factory,’ that is located at 19 Avenue B in Johnson City. The property has remained vacant for several years although it has a strategic location in Johnson City’s core Downtown and is a contributing property within the Village’s Historic District,” said Mayor of Johnson City Christina Charuk. “With a detailed feasibility study and re-use assessment, the Village will be able to outline a clear vision for a future developer and encourage further investment in Johnson City. These planning documents can aid in accessing future grant funding that is necessary to rehabilitate the site. The project is expected to facilitate the creation of new housing units, support nearby small businesses, and lead to the transformation of a blighted building into a prime living location.” 

Said Town of Ithaca Supervisor Rod Howe, “This generous funding from Homes and Community Renewal's Grow Pro-Housing Communities grant will help the Town of Ithaca use GIS technology to envision new housing,” Added C.J. Randall, Town of Ithaca Director of Planning, “We're working to identify the most productive scenarios for development projects that are anticipated to have a longer, phased buildout, while also being realistic about the potential for absorption of new units into the housing market. We will also use these land use assumptions during our annual process of examining the need and timing of capital improvements to serve future development, keeping with our Town of Ithaca mission emphasizing planning and innovation.”

Local governments applied to receive up to $250,000 in funding through the Pro-Housing Communities Program to create master plans, conduct market studies and zoning analyses, streamline building permits, and improve their ability to cultivate a pro-housing environment. This grant is administered by the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

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