Omni and Wesley hold ribbon cutting for phase I of $18 million rehab project

Officials have recently cut the ceremonial ribbon marking completion of the first phase of the rehabilitation of Embury Apartment's twin, 14-story complex. Representatives from Omni Housing Development and The Wesley Community led officials on a tour of the finished East Tower showcasing the handicapped accessible one and two-bedroom units on the 14th floor that offer views of the Green Mountains, Saratoga and the Adirondacks. The East Tower completion offers 96 one and two-bedroom, energy efficient units to residents. Embury Apartments, Inc., the non-profit group who has been the owner and property manager of the site since originally constructed on the campus of The Wesley Community over 35 years ago, along with current co-developer Omni Housing Development LLC, anticipates completion of the entire $18 million project by summer 2010. The entire project encompasses both the East and West Towers which combined feature 192 apartments. State and local officials taking part in the ribbon cutting included mayor Scott Johnson and NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal executive deputy commissioner Brian Lawlor along with a representative of governor David Paterson and state legislators who joined Duncan Barrett, COO, Omni, Brian Nealon, CEO of The Wesley Community and Michael Keegan, regional president, M&T Bank. DHCR executive deputy commissioner Brian Lawlor said, "DHCR congratulates Omni Development, Embury Apartments, the Wesley Community, and all the seniors and their families who will enjoy this wonderful example of high quality affordable housing. We are proud to be part of the financing that made this extensive rehabilitation possible. This newly renovated complex offers safer, more attractive, and more affordable homes for area seniors. Apartments will be more energy efficient and less costly to maintain, allowing more seniors to live comfortably and independently in the place they call home." "As exciting as this project was from the beginning, its completion and meeting all goals is true recognition of how we genuinely value our seniors," said Johnson. "I'm proud of the dedication and hard work of all those who made it happen." "The improvements presented today are indeed a validation of The Wesley Community's commitment to providing independent housing for seniors without the burden of home ownership," said Wesley Community CEO Brian Nealon. "We celebrate the midway point of these critically important renovations and look forward to welcoming residents to enjoy the apartments and the benefits of independent living in a social setting for years to come." "Omni Housing's investment to rehabilitate the Embury Apartments provides more high-quality residential units for seniors in Saratoga Springs. M&T Bank continues to actively lend to projects like this throughout the region and we look forward to financing more local projects that stimulate investment, create jobs and improve the quality of life for our community's residents," said Keegan. The gut rehabilitation of the East Tower addressed fire safety, environmental hazards, energy conservation, dated and obsolete systems and standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, including converting several units to better serve the handicapped. To remedy these conditions, the revitalization included: removal of the asbestos flooring, replacement of all windows and insulation of the inside of all exterior walls and installation of handrails as well as ADA compliant bathrooms in the public areas. Each apartment features Energy Star appliances helping residents to achieve maximum energy conservation. In addition, a Wi-Fi hub will be installed in the tower providing free Internet access to all the tenants. The projected energy savings for the complex is in excess of 40% over the prior consumption levels. When originally built in 1972, Embury's twin, 14-story towers helped to redefine housing opportunities for area seniors. Originally conceived by the founders of the Saratoga Retirement Center, the forerunner to the modern-day Wesley Community, the Embury towers offered subsidized, independent living for active seniors aged 62 and older. One year later, the towers were joined by the addition of the Wesley Nursing Home to provide Embury residents easy access to health care services and social activities. Today, the Embury towers and its residents are part of the much broader Wesley Community, a 36-acre not-for-profit agency, which serves the needs of the elderly, as well as active seniors, and adults. Public bus transportation is available for Embury residents for the half-mile trip to the city's center. Residency is for those seniors with low and moderate incomes restricted and regulated under the NYS Mitchell Lama Program as well as HUD's Sec.236 Interest Reduction and Rent Supplement Programs. CK Dennis Architects provided design, architecture and engineering services for the project. Omni Housing Development LLC lead development and construction management and MLB Construction Services, LLC is the general contractor. Embury Apartments, Inc. will provide property management services. Financing for the $18 million rehabilitation project is provided by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, Embury Apartments, Inc., The Community Preservation Corporation, M&T Bank, Hudson Housing LLC, JP Morgan/Chase and grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Newly rehabilitated one, two-bedroom, and studio units will be available in the East Tower for occupancy in February 2010. For more information on residency opportunities at Embury, please contact Nikki Ferguson, director of the Embury Apartments, at 518-691-1551.