Mayor Byron W. Brown joined representatives of the Hamlin Park Taxpayers Association (HPTA) and Habitat for Humanity yesterday as the HPTPA contributed $15,000 to support construction of an affordable, architecturally-appropriate infill home at 33 Brunswick Boulevard.
In March, Mayor Brown launched a pilot program to demolish derelict properties and replace them with new, affordable homes within a 12 month period. The Brunswick Boulevard home is the first project under the Demolition and Immediate Infill Housing program.
‘The Demolition and Immediate Infill Housing pilot program is a first-of-its-kind model, which brings together City government, the community, and a nonprofit organization to turn blighted neighborhood properties into community assets,” Mayor Brown said.
The Hamlin Park Taxpayers Association generously offered to contribute $15,000 to assist in closing the funding gap in the cost of design and materials to meet the preservation district requirements.
“We thank Mayor Brown for creating this new program that quickly replaces abandoned, dangerous houses with new, affordable homes. The City worked with us for over a year to develop a plan that ensures Hamlin Park remains a family-friendly, safe, walkable community. Our Hamlin Park community is the best address in Buffalo,” said HPCTA President Stephanie Barber-Geter.
“Habitat for Humanity Buffalo is proud to take the lead on this project. Revitalizing the home at 33 Brunswick is a great example of what can happen when the City, community residents, and Habitat work together to build back Buffalo,” said Teresa Bianchi, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity Buffalo.
Mutoni Flavia, a single mother of three who works at Kaleida Health, will be purchasing the new home. Flavia, who has been enrolled in the Habitat program for over a year, will work with Habitat crews to finish building the home, which is expected to be ready for occupancy in early 2022.