WHAT: Groundbreaking Event Parkway Gardens – New Affordable Housing
WHERE: 1325 Tilden Avenue Utica, New York 13501
WHEN: August 25th, 2026, at 12:00 PM – Ceremony & Groundbreaking [Media: please arrive by 11:50 am]
WHO:
· Thomas DiNapoli, NYS Comptroller
· Darren Scott, Director of Development – NYSHCR
· Mayor Michael Galime, City of Utica
· Anthony Picente JR, Executive – Oneida County
· Shane Szulborski, Asset Manager – Huntington Bank
· Peter Grof, Investment Officer – FLHBNY
· Rob Holzman, Vice President Land & Acquisitions – Vecino
· Bob Calli, Executuve Director – People First
SYNOPSIS:
· Parkway Gardens is a new multifamily affordable housing development. Phase 1 will provide 71 brand new affordable homes via a new 4-story building with 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bed units. Rents are set at 30-80% area median gross income (AMGI).
· Amenities: furnished community room + kitchen, computer area, outdoor children’s play area, recreation deck.
· The entire development meets 2020 Enterprise Green-Plus standards: energy-efficient, all-electric to help achieve NY State’s 85% carbon neutrality by 2050. New pedestrian paths connect with the surround neighborhood and park system.
· Team: People First (Developer), Vecino (Developer), BW Architecture + Engineering (Architecture/MEP), STAND (Structural Eng.), Barton & Loguidice (Landscaping), Vecino Construction (GC). People First (UMHA) will maintain long term ownership.
· The $33.2 million development is made possible through $1.75 million Federal LIHTC, $459,762 State LIHTC, $5.7 million Public Housing Preservation Program and $3.5 million in NYS HOME funds, all funded by NYSHCR. Additional funding includes CITI permanent and construction loans, $1 million HOME funds from the City of Utica, $2 million AHP funding from FHLBNY, $800,000 investment from People First and Tax Credit Syndication by Huntington Bank.
· Parkway Gardens Phase 1 is scheduled to open Fall 2027.
