(WNY News Now) – SILVER CREEK, NY – As a longtime champion of the effort to transform the old Silver Creek High School into affordable senior housing, Senator George Borrello heralded the recent news that the project is receiving $6.9 million in state funding to bring this longtime vision to life.

Senator Borrello noted that his goal of seeing the abandoned school renovated into affordable senior housing for the community was one of his first initiatives soon after beginning his first term as a Chautauqua County legislator in 2010.

“Affordable housing for senior citizens has long been a problem in rural areas. The housing tends to be older, requiring costly repairs and maintenance that is hard on those with fixed incomes. However, there are few other affordable housing options in these communities. That has certainly been the case in Silver Creek,” said Senator Borrello. “That reality is what spurred my quest to find a way to repurpose the site of the old school.”

“The building is ideally situated in the heart of the village with many amenities within walking distance. However, the school was badly deteriorated, even 14 years ago when this effort started. With the help and leadership of other local officials, I began reaching out to developers and non-profits about the feasibility of transforming the school into apartments. Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL) was one of the first non-profits we engaged.

“However, regulatory and funding obstacles put that first effort on pause and would continue to be an issue as we explored other possibilities in the years that followed,” said Sen. Borrello.

“In 2021, the effort was revived when Region Nine UAW Housing Corporation entered the picture. We worked closely with them and remain grateful for the time and resources they invested in assessing the building, raising funds and resolving some regulatory issues. Ultimately, post-COVID inflation and supply chain issues forced them to discontinue the effort. However, they generously handed down all the construction estimates, market analyses, and other research they performed in order to determine feasibility and apply for grants. Without a doubt, the progress made during that period created the momentum that brought us here,” said Sen. Borrello.

Senator Borrello noted that the project developers, STEL and Park Grove Development, determined that saving the old building wasn’t feasible and advanced a blueprint for a new 54-unit apartment building for seniors aged 62 and up, with 15 units dedicated to supportive housing. He thanked the Chautauqua County IDA for its collaboration with the developers, which includes providing tax incentives.

“The Chautauqua County IDA has been integral in this effort and I am very appreciative of their commitment to the project,” said Sen. Borrello. “Their efforts to facilitate the financing and incentives and their assistance in ensuring the $1 million Restore New York grant from 2022 would be applied to this latest project were all incredibly helpful,” said Sen. Borrello.

“We have been working on this project for many years, and it has certainly been challenging,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the CCIDA. “That being said, we never gave up hope that we could someday see a better future for the site. Through our proactive efforts, we were fortunate to find great partners in STEL, Park Grove Development, the Village/Town, and other key stakeholders including County Executive Wendel. While the project still has a ways to go before it comes to fruition, we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. Kristine Morabito, CCIDA Project Manager, deserves a lot of credit for her unfaltering dedication to the project.”

Tom Whitney, Executive Director of STEL credited Senator Borrello with championing this project over the past 14 years and refusing to give up, even as one possibility after another fell through.

“The exciting point we are at today with this project would not have been possible without the unwavering support and advocacy of George Borrello,” said Mr. Whitney. “Our organization has truly come full circle on this effort. We tried to purchase the building for redevelopment in 2011, but it ultimately didn’t work out. This time, we had a clearer path forward, as some of the logistical hurdles had been ironed out and there was a better prospect of securing state funding to help with the project.”

“It is very rewarding to see this project within reach after so many years and dedication by so many people. From the beginning until now, we have worked with four Silver Creek mayors, three county executives, county legislators and several interested developers. While there is still much work to be completed before we cross the finish line, everyone who has been involved over the years can take pride in what has been achieved.”