Ortt, Lifetime Assistance Announce Groundbreaking on Frances Apartments in Town of Sweden

TOWN OF SWEDEN – Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I – North Tonawanda) today announced the groundbreaking on the $11.75 million Frances Apartments project in the Town of Sweden, Monroe County. When complete, the 56-unit development will provide supportive housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as well as affordable housing for working families with low to moderate incomes.   

The project will create 120-140 construction jobs and two permanent jobs. Senator Ortt helped to secure more than $10 million in state funding for the project, including assistance from the state Homes and Community Renewal, OPWDD and Federal low-income housing tax credits, which is distributed by the state. Additional money was secured by the Monroe County HOME Funds, the Lifetime Foundation and NYSERDA.   

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities State Senator Ortt said, “Frances Apartments will increase access to affordable housing for families with mixed incomes while also providing inclusive housing for our most vulnerable residents in the I/DD communities. This project will help them achieve independence, fill the need for affordable living and supportive housing, and contribute to the economic growth of the area.”  

Located at 1 Lifetime Way, Frances Apartments is one of the first housing developments in the town that incorporates mixed-income housing and supportive housing. The project will address a critical need for affordable and integrated housing opportunities, and could spur more economic development.

Frances Apartments, totaling 55,986 square feet, will be comprised of seven residential buildings and one community building with a laundry facility. There will be a total of 56 affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with 14 units reserved for I/DD individuals. The remaining 42 apartments will range in rent from $536 to $944 for working families with low to moderate incomes.

Lifetime Assistance, Inc. will deliver supportive services to tenants with developmental disabilities.

James Branciforte, President of Lifetime Assistance, Inc. noted, “Senator Ortt has provided exceptional leadership in furthering New York’s commitment to include citizens with developmental disabilities and working families in realizing the security and dignity of a safe place to call home. Senator Ortt’s hard work on this project and commitment to community inclusiveness through affordable, accessible housing in the Brockport and Monroe County communities, will directly  improve lives by meeting this most fundamental and basic of human needs – a warm and safe home.”

The regional NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) wait list has up to 685 individuals looking for housing with supportive services. The project is consistent with OPWDD’s Transformation Plan to provide compliant, community-based, integrated housing options for individuals with I/DD. It also falls in line with the state’s Supportive Housing Development Program allowing individuals to live in the least restrictive settings.

Lifetime Assistance, Inc. and Rochester Cornerstone Group are the co-developers for the project. Construction is expected to be completed in the summer of 2017 with apartments available to rent at the end of June.