BUFFALO, N.Y. — Many homes in East Buffalo will be getting a face-lift.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a nearly $26 million grant had been awarded to Land Banks across New York State.
The funding, made available through the state's Land Bank Initiative, is intended to help eliminate blight, increase housing, assist local economic development efforts, improve the availability of homeownership opportunities, and improve the quality of life in communities that have experienced disinvestment.
Western New York is getting $1.6 million, which will be used to renovate homes in East Buffalo.
"We'll be doing asbestos testing, lead testing, and fixing roofs," The Land Bank's Executive Director Jocelyn Gordon told 2 On Your Side.
Gordon says there was a big push in the 90s to tear down abandoned homes. It left East Buffalo with many vacant lots or abandoned properties. Now, instead of tearing them down, Gordon says they want to renovate the houses still standing.
"Because there is a demand for homes, we don't want to knock any more houses down. We want to try to stabilize and improve upon what we have," Gordon said.
The Land Bank has identified several properties in need of repair, with the first three, 273 Cable St., 486 Marilla St., and 55 Urban St. in line for renovations.
Gordon said she wanted to hire a minority contractor to handle the job and chose Darold Fountain. He's the C.E.O. of Aurora Window Systems and Contracting.
"I'm going to make a house that is affordable but doesn't look like it's affordable," Fountain said.
The Land Bank hired Fountain and gave him six months to finish work on the three houses.
"You have to make certain income guidelines even to have access to purchase this house. So this won't be a market-rate house. I am going to give this house all of my focus," Fountain said.
It's exciting news for residents living next door to the blighted properties. Michael Darby has been proud to call East Buffalo home over the past 30 years. However, when he leaves his home, Darby becomes frustrated. There's an abandoned house next door.
"It's a fight I've been fighting for the last 25-30 years of my life," Darby said. "It's long overdue. It should've been done 15-20 years ago, but it's never too late," he added.