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The city of Little Falls will apply for $400,000 through the Community Block Development Grant Program to replace a 40-year-old elevator at Rockton Plaza.
“The Little Falls Housing Authority approached the city with a project that is a good fit for the program,” said Jim Thatcher, a senior associate with Glens Falls-based Avalon Associates. “The project is rather unique and different, as I’m sure the state Office of Community Renewal will not receive a high number of applications proposing work on a senior high-rise living facility. This application should stand out in the competition to receive available funds.”
Thatcher spoke Tuesday during the second of two public hearings held by the Common Council on the city’s 2010 CBDG application. The $400,000 is the maximum amount the city can apply for.
“The elevator is 40 years old and has passed its life expectancy,” said Thatcher. “The parts to repair the elevator, should it ever breakdown, are scarce. It’s not a good situation for the housing authority to be in, because so many of their residents rely on that elevator everyday.”
Thatcher said the Little Falls Housing Authority approached the city’s Urban Renewal Agency for assistance because it does not receive federal or state funding, other than the state paying its mortgage on the 64-unit building, and does not have the money to replace the elevator.
“The authority maintains the building on its own, with their only source of income coming through the rents paid by residents,” he said. “And while they have done a good job maintaining the building, repairing the roof when needed, replacing windows and making energy efficiency improvements, it is very difficult for the authority to undertake a replacement project like this.”
Thatcher said the Rockton Plaza project is eligible for CBDG funds as it will assist low to moderate-income residents, as well as a portion of the city’s elderly population.
While the project’s budget is still being worked out, Thatcher said the cost to replace the elevator will be approximately $250,000. The additional moneys, less administrative costs, he said, will be used to pay expenses to relocate residents impacted by the project when the repairs are undertaken.
“The elevator will have to be shutdown for eight to 10 weeks, and with so many of the residents relying on the elevator and not the stairs to get to and from their apartment, there will be a need to relocate residents during the replacement project,” he said. “It’s a necessity.”
Council members Ed Becker and Betty Deming asked if a second elevator could be constructed.
“Unfortunately, the way the building is constructed it is not possible unless the square footage of apartments are altered or a number of apartments are eliminated all together,” said Thatcher.
As for the prospect of constructing an elevator tower outside the building and attaching to one of the building’s sides, Thatcher said that too would require changes be made to apartments.
He added the cost, estimated at $600,00, is also prohibitive to adding a second elevator.
“While it would be great to install a second, newer elevator, the building would still be left with a 40-year-old elevator that will eventually breakdown and not be able to be repaired,” said Thatcher. “This project, to replace the 40-year-old elevator with a modern elevator, is the best solution.”
The deadline to submit the CBDG application to the state is April 23.
In other business Tuesday:
•Ed Battisti, Charles Kohn, William Bennett, Mary Ellen Krisch, Veronica Bannon and Mike Bulger were appointed to serve on the Board of Property Maintenance and Codes. Their terms expire in April 2012.
•Richard George, Michael Liscio and David Casullo were appointed to serve on the planning board.
•Anthony DeLuca was appointed to serve on the recreation commission. His term expires in 2014.
The city of Little Falls will apply for $400,000 through the Community Block Development Grant Program to replace a 40-year-old elevator at Rockton Plaza.
“The Little Falls Housing Authority approached the city with a project that is a good fit for the program,” said Jim Thatcher, a senior associate with Glens Falls-based Avalon Associates. “The project is rather unique and different, as I’m sure the state Office of Community Renewal will not receive a high number of applications proposing work on a senior high-rise living facility. This application should stand out in the competition to receive available funds.”
Thatcher spoke Tuesday during the second of two public hearings held by the Common Council on the city’s 2010 CBDG application. The $400,000 is the maximum amount the city can apply for.
“The elevator is 40 years old and has passed its life expectancy,” said Thatcher. “The parts to repair the elevator, should it ever breakdown, are scarce. It’s not a good situation for the housing authority to be in, because so many of their residents rely on that elevator everyday.”
Thatcher said the Little Falls Housing Authority approached the city’s Urban Renewal Agency for assistance because it does not receive federal or state funding, other than the state paying its mortgage on the 64-unit building, and does not have the money to replace the elevator.
“The authority maintains the building on its own, with their only source of income coming through the rents paid by residents,” he said. “And while they have done a good job maintaining the building, repairing the roof when needed, replacing windows and making energy efficiency improvements, it is very difficult for the authority to undertake a replacement project like this.”
Thatcher said the Rockton Plaza project is eligible for CBDG funds as it will assist low to moderate-income residents, as well as a portion of the city’s elderly population.
While the project’s budget is still being worked out, Thatcher said the cost to replace the elevator will be approximately $250,000. The additional moneys, less administrative costs, he said, will be used to pay expenses to relocate residents impacted by the project when the repairs are undertaken.
“The elevator will have to be shutdown for eight to 10 weeks, and with so many of the residents relying on the elevator and not the stairs to get to and from their apartment, there will be a need to relocate residents during the replacement project,” he said. “It’s a necessity.”
Council members Ed Becker and Betty Deming asked if a second elevator could be constructed.
“Unfortunately, the way the building is constructed it is not possible unless the square footage of apartments are altered or a number of apartments are eliminated all together,” said Thatcher.
As for the prospect of constructing an elevator tower outside the building and attaching to one of the building’s sides, Thatcher said that too would require changes be made to apartments.
He added the cost, estimated at $600,00, is also prohibitive to adding a second elevator.
“While it would be great to install a second, newer elevator, the building would still be left with a 40-year-old elevator that will eventually breakdown and not be able to be repaired,” said Thatcher. “This project, to replace the 40-year-old elevator with a modern elevator, is the best solution.”
The deadline to submit the CBDG application to the state is April 23.
In other business Tuesday:
•Ed Battisti, Charles Kohn, William Bennett, Mary Ellen Krisch, Veronica Bannon and Mike Bulger were appointed to serve on the Board of Property Maintenance and Codes. Their terms expire in April 2012.
•Richard George, Michael Liscio and David Casullo were appointed to serve on the planning board.
•Anthony DeLuca was appointed to serve on the recreation commission. His term expires in 2014.
