$80 Million THRIVE Cornhill Housing Project Begins in Utica
The two-site development will bring 102 affordable apartments, supportive housing and community services to one of Utica’s most historic neighborhoods.
Construction is beginning on the THRIVE Cornhill affordable housing development, an $80 million project designed to bring 102 apartments, supportive services and two new community centers to Utica’s Cornhill neighborhood.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the start of construction Thursday, July 23, describing the project as an investment in both housing and the people who have kept Cornhill’s community spirit alive.
The development will include two new mixed-use buildings at separate neighborhood locations. Each building will contain affordable apartments and a Community Impact Center open to people from across Cornhill—not only those living in the development.
The project’s scale is significant. However, its larger promise is that housing, health services, recreation, job training and community gathering spaces will be built together rather than treated as separate needs.
What Is THRIVE Cornhill?
THRIVE stands for “To Heal and Revitalize an Innovative Vibrant Economy.”
The project is being developed by People First and the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties in partnership with Edgemere Development.
According to the state, the Community Foundation led a public engagement process to gather ideas and concerns from Cornhill residents before the plans were finalized. That local input helped shape a development intended to serve the broader neighborhood.
Community Foundation President and CEO Alicia Dicks said the plan was “guided by the voices of Cornhill residents.”
THRIVE Cornhill will include:
- 102 affordable apartments
- 19 supportive housing apartments
- Two Community Impact Centers
- Meeting and gathering spaces
- A business incubator
- Arts and media studios
- A gym and wellness facility
- An outdoor courtyard
- On-site supportive services
- Apartments designed for people with mobility or sensory disabilities
The project will be located near downtown Utica, public transportation, schools, medical providers, employment opportunities, commercial services, the Utica Public Library and the Utica Zoo.
Affordable Housing for a Range of Utica Households
The apartments will be available to households earning up to 70% of the Area Median Income.
Area Median Income, commonly called AMI, is a federal measurement used to determine income eligibility for affordable housing. The exact income limit for a household depends on family size and the income standards in effect when applications open.
The state announcement did not provide expected monthly rents, a construction completion date or instructions for applying for an apartment. Those details will likely become available closer to the development’s opening.
Residents should be cautious about any unofficial social media post or advertisement claiming to accept applications before the project’s developers or state housing officials make a formal announcement.
Seven apartments will be equipped for residents with mobility disabilities. Three additional apartments will be adapted for people with sensory disabilities.
The development will also be fully electric. Plans call for electric heating and cooling, Energy Star appliances and low-flow plumbing fixtures. State officials said the project will also incorporate energy-efficient design and on-site solar energy.
Supportive Housing for Seniors and Young Adults
Nineteen of the 102 apartments will provide supportive housing for eligible seniors with disabilities and young adults transitioning to independence after foster care.
Supportive housing combines a permanent place to live with services that help residents remain stable and independent.
Those services may include assistance with health care, benefits, employment, transportation, daily living needs and connections to community programs.
Integrated Community Alternatives Network, commonly known as ICAN, will provide on-site services for supportive housing residents.
The apartments are backed by an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award administered through the New York State Department of Health.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald emphasized the relationship between housing and public health. Stable housing, he said, is an important social factor that can improve health, well-being and quality of life.
Barbara Guinn, commissioner of the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, said supportive housing is one of New York’s strongest tools for helping people who have experienced homelessness live independently.
The inclusion of young people leaving foster care is especially important. Aging out of foster care can leave young adults without the family support, savings, credit history or rental references that many people rely on when beginning independent life.
A stable apartment paired with guidance and services can help prevent homelessness before it begins.
Community Impact Centers Will Serve the Neighborhood
THRIVE Cornhill is more than an apartment construction project.
Each building will contain a Community Impact Center where residents and neighborhood organizations can gather, learn, create and connect with services.
Planned amenities include:
- Community meeting rooms for neighborhood groups, workshops and events
- A business incubator to help entrepreneurs develop ideas and small businesses
- Arts and media studios supporting creative work and cultural expression
- A gym and wellness center promoting recreation and healthier living
- Education and training spaces connecting residents with new skills and opportunities
The centers are expected to be open to the public, expanding the project’s reach beyond the people who eventually live in its apartments.
People First Deputy Executive Director Shelley Penge described the development as “more than just brick and mortar.”
That distinction matters. Affordable housing can provide stability to individual families, but public spaces and neighborhood programs can strengthen relationships among residents, businesses and institutions.
The plan also reflects Cornhill’s history as one of Utica’s most culturally diverse neighborhoods. Hochul said the project is intended to support a community where “families, children, seniors and young professionals” can live together.
How the $80 Million Project Is Being Financed
THRIVE Cornhill will rely on a combination of state, federal, local and private funding.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal is supporting the project through:
- $24 million in equity generated through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
- $14 million in equity generated through the State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
- $18.5 million in additional housing program funding
Other financing includes:
- $6.5 million from Empire State Development
- $5.1 million from the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program
- $4 million from the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties
- $1.6 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York
- $922,000 from Utica’s American Rescue Plan Act funding
- $350,000 from Utica’s HOME program
The Empire State Development funding includes support from the Regional Economic Development Council initiative and the Capital Improvement Grants for Pro-Housing Communities program.
Utica has been certified as a Pro-Housing Community, making the city eligible to compete for certain state development funds.
Officials Connect Housing to Economic Growth
Supporters say the development arrives as Utica and the Mohawk Valley prepare for continued economic growth.
U.S. Rep. John Mannion connected the need for more housing to regional employment growth, including Chobani’s expansion. He also noted Utica’s long history of welcoming refugees and immigrants who have helped rebuild neighborhoods and start businesses.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer highlighted the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which is a major part of the project’s financial structure.
Schumer argued that adding housing for working people is necessary to respond to high housing costs and reduce pressure on family budgets.
Empire State Development President and CEO Hope Knight made a similar economic argument. Employers considering an expansion need confidence that workers will be able to find suitable housing near their jobs, she said.
These arguments reflect a basic regional challenge: economic development cannot succeed over the long term without enough housing.
New jobs may attract workers, but families need apartments and homes that are safe, reasonably priced and close to transportation, schools, child care and health services.
Local Leaders See a Turning Point for Cornhill
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. said Cornhill’s revitalization must be about more than constructing buildings.
The larger goal, he said, is to create a safe and supportive neighborhood where families, culture and local businesses can grow.
Utica Mayor Michael Galime said the two impact centers could become “beacons of opportunity” positioned as bookends of neighborhood redevelopment.
State Sen. Joseph Griffo said THRIVE Cornhill will expand access to affordable housing and supportive services.
Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon credited the Community Foundation, People First, Mid-Utica Neighborhood Preservation Corporation, Collective Impact Network and local government leaders for bringing the project forward.
The number of organizations involved shows both the strength and the complexity of the plan. No single public agency, nonprofit organization or funding source could easily deliver a project of this size alone.
Why Cornhill Housing Remains Important
Cornhill has seen major housing investments in recent years, but local planning documents indicate that unmet need remains.
Utica’s 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan notes that Johnson Park Center completed three residential buildings in 2024, adding 62 affordable apartments and a community center to Cornhill.
The city’s plan also points to Roosevelt Residences, a scattered-site development that created 50 rental units. As of April 2020, most of those apartments were occupied, and the waiting list had grown to more than 200 households.
That waiting list was an important warning: even after new apartments were built, the demand for safe and affordable housing remained high.
THRIVE Cornhill will add another 102 apartments, but it should not be viewed as the final answer to the city’s housing needs.
Older properties still require repair. Some families struggle with rising rents, utility costs and limited housing choices. Seniors and people with disabilities often need accessible apartments that are difficult to find.
A successful housing strategy must therefore include new construction, preservation of existing homes, enforcement of housing standards and pathways to homeownership.
A Major Opportunity—and a Need for Accountability
THRIVE Cornhill has the potential to become a model for neighborhood-centered development.
Its strongest feature may be the decision to combine housing with services, wellness, recreation, cultural programs and small-business support.
Still, large publicly funded projects should be judged by their results.
Residents deserve clear information as construction moves forward, including:
- The expected completion date
- How contractors and workers are selected
- Whether local and minority-owned businesses are participating
- When apartment applications will open
- What rents and income limits will apply
- How the Community Impact Centers will be operated
- Which programs will be available to neighborhood residents
- How residents can continue offering input
Community engagement should not end with a groundbreaking ceremony.
The people of Cornhill should remain active partners throughout construction and after the buildings open.
THRIVE Cornhill Could Build More Than Housing
The start of construction is an important milestone for Utica.
THRIVE Cornhill will bring 102 affordable apartments, specialized supportive housing, accessible units and two public community centers to a neighborhood that has endured years of disinvestment while maintaining a strong cultural identity.
The project also represents a larger idea: neighborhoods thrive when residents have more than a roof over their heads.
They need stability. They need safe places to gather. They need access to health care, education, recreation, transportation and economic opportunity.
The public should follow the project closely, participate in future community meetings and demand transparent updates on construction, housing applications and neighborhood programming.
If THRIVE Cornhill delivers on its promises, it could provide something more lasting than two new buildings. It could help create a stronger foundation for the next generation of Cornhill residents.
