The Buffalo Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corporation (BENLIC) developed two single-family homes at 34 & 36 Longnecker Street in the Lovejoy neighborhood. This Green Code-compliant development represents the first new housing construction in Lovejoy in over a decade. BENLIC invested more than $400,000 on the attractive infill homes.
The properties are within walking distance to Hennepin Park, Hennepin Community Center, Mead public library, the Lovejoy Business District and the Lovejoy public pool. BENLIC used funding from the New York State Attorney General’s (OAG) Office Community Revitalization Initiative. As an OAG funded project, qualified offers must make no more than 100 percent the Erie County Area Median Income adjusted for household size. The OAG Initiative was administered by Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC).
“The two new homes on Longnecker Street represent a win-win for both the community, our partners in government, and our not-for-profit partners,” said Jocelyn Gordon Executive Director BENLIC.
The collaboration between BENLIC and the City of Buffalo was critical in identifying this project location. In the Fall of 2017, BENLIC acquired the vacant lots from the City, and in the Summer of 2018 BENLIC hosted several public meetings to gather stakeholder feedback on what was to be built on this site.
In addition to these efforts in the Lovejoy neighborhood, the Lank Bank will complete another $1 million in new construction on other infill lots (demolition sites) by the Fall of 2020.”
“My Administration was pleased to assist the Buffalo Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corporation transferring these properties to BENLIC for redevelopment and also for identifying grant funds to construct these two new homes. Today’s ribbon-cutting is a win for BENLIC, the City of Buffalo, the Lovejoy neighborhood and the residents who will make these houses their homes,” Mayor Byron W. Brown said.
The mission of BENLIC is to confront and alleviate the problems distressed properties cause to communities by supporting municipal and regional revitalization efforts and strategically acquiring, improving, assembling, and selling distressed, vacant, abandoned, and/or tax-delinquent properties.
