|
|
Post by artsyone on Jan 29, 2024 16:00:01 GMT -5
As many know, the Olbiston has been ressurected as Affordable Housing. The building has been totally redone, the old apts. gutted and retrofitted and they are beautiful. I would like to think that all of us here over the years with our enthusiastic interest and posting contributed, and not in a small way, to the rebirth of the building. We should also be proud of our work here, and much thanks to the late great Dave Griffin for his unflagging enthusiasm, even up to the point of the end of his life; and to Jon Hynes for his dedication to unearthing all of the arcane facts that went into these posts. It is my belief that much positive energy was created and it carried over into the general "air/energy space." All of this work gave me a platform on FB to post the work: to this end I am sharing this with The Land Marks Society of Greater Utica and assisting them with any upcoming tours of the new building that they may have. I also have to say proudly that Dave and Jon did a long piece on the Black community on Post Street and I have shared this with a woman named Diedre Sinnot, a local historian. Sinnot will be using some of the research (Jon's research) at a lecture at the Oneida County Historical Society about the black community and Post Street later this month in February 2024. I am  also doing a series of posts on my FB page regarding the "faces" that are carved on the building. I have made the series public so you can find them on my FB page: Fiona O'downey/ facebook. Thanks to all again. |
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Jan 29, 2024 17:10:33 GMT -5
Wow that is fantastic. I am glad that the building was saved and went through a total redo. Also the company that is in charge does inspections of all apartments every four months. Also no section 8 individuals will be allowed to pay rent using that method.
|
|
|
|
Post by artsyone on Jan 30, 2024 10:03:13 GMT -5
I don't believe that the company can exclude Section 8 or they must offer them another payment plan.
|
|
|
|
Post by artsyone on Jan 30, 2024 20:22:20 GMT -5
Atticus Pizza: where did you hear that the new Olbiston would not be accepting Section 8? It is being managed by CRM mgmt, and CRM has many Sec 8 tenants.
|
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Jan 31, 2024 16:27:07 GMT -5
It was one the New Channel 4 news one evening. A rep from those who will manage the place said no Sec 8 and that the apartments like others they run will be inspected 4 times annually. Inspections are very good BUT follow up is even more important. When I was at Marino Apt. in Utica a few individuals lived like pigs. One guy was really bad when he was forced to move out after about 8 years of living in filth when maintenance came in to clean the place out they could not believe it. Wall to wall carpeting covered in slime and urine( he drank a lot with his friends got drug all of them and vomited all over the place. Total nightmare. Unbelievable that some people can live like that but.......
|
|
|
|
Post by artsyone on Jan 31, 2024 19:33:08 GMT -5
It was one the New Channel 4 news one evening. A rep from those who will manage the place said no Sec 8 and that the apartments like others they run will be inspected 4 times annually. Inspections are very good BUT follow up is even more important. When I was at Marino Apt. in Utica a few individuals lived like pigs. One guy was really bad when he was forced to move out after about 8 years of living in filth when maintenance came in to clean the place out they could not believe it. Wall to wall carpeting covered in slime and urine( he drank a lot with his friends got drug all of them and vomited all over the place. Total nightmare. Unbelievable that some people can live like that but....... |
|
|
|
Post by artsyone on Jan 31, 2024 19:49:01 GMT -5
It was one the New Channel 4 news one evening. A rep from those who will manage the place said no Sec 8 and that the apartments like others they run will be inspected 4 times annually. Inspections are very good BUT follow up is even more important. When I was at Marino Apt. in Utica a few individuals lived like pigs. One guy was really bad when he was forced to move out after about 8 years of living in filth when maintenance came in to clean the place out they could not believe it. Wall to wall carpeting covered in slime and urine( he drank a lot with his friends got drug all of them and vomited all over the place. Total nightmare. Unbelievable that some people can live like that but....... Is this where I reply? I saw that broadcast on the news and you tube, and I heard Mr. Tarbox say that the apts would be inspected 4 times a year, but I did not hear him say anything about Section 8. I think if he said that he was not being devisive or seeking to exclude anyone because of there payment status, because that is illegal and if he did say that, he shouldn't have. It's discriminatory. I know a lot about Section 8 because I receive it and the payment system they use is voucher based, in some affordable housing they have there own governmental (Federal) payment systems, subsidized housing is one I believe. Liberty Affordable Housing cannot simply exclude potential tenants because of there payment status, they have to offer them there plan and if the tenant accepts, they have to let Section 8 go and if the tenant moves out, they may forfeit there right to immediatly resume a new Section 8 status and be put back on a waiting list. I waited 5 years for mine. I also question the quote: the apts we run will be like all others, "inspected 4 times a year." Well, CRM managment runs Kennedy Plaza and Liberty owns it and I can guarantee that K.P. is not inspected quarterly and K.P. as well as many of the other affordable living buildings they own DO accept Section 8. FYI: When I heard that CRM will be managing it it made my blood run cold. |
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Feb 6, 2024 9:30:29 GMT -5
Market rate apartments will they become for people within a certain salary range and employed. All the new apartments are doing that for improvements. I have checked. People First is redoing all its apartment complexes using the RAD approach. It will be a mix a low income and market rate apartments. They will still be accepting Sec 8 as well as SSI and Disability people.
|
|
|
|
Post by clarencebunsen on Feb 6, 2024 10:05:31 GMT -5
What is the RAD approach?
|
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Feb 7, 2024 13:10:56 GMT -5
It is a very complex confusing approach of renting to low and no income and disabled individuals. A new way of maximising the amount of money they can take from each individual. Also allows for no income, low income, middle income individuals to rent and live together in mix public housing, But they use another term in place of public housing. Always confused me. I threw away all the paperwork that came along with all the meeting we had. Just for some humour MHD still has not launched the program which is typical of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by clarencebunsen on Feb 7, 2024 22:13:47 GMT -5
RAD is a government program so no simple explanation is possible. HUD has an online site which provides helpful information such as this:
" September 13, 2023: New Training Available on Resident Engagement Updates in the 2023 RAD Supplemental. The recorded training explains changes such as the requirement for additional resident meetings and required documents to be submitted in accordance with the new 2023 RAD Supplemental Notice (published July 27, 2023). The Supplemental Notice can be found here. The changes to resident engagement requirements go into effect on September 20, 2023. View the recording below for more details. The presentation is also available in PDF format."
|
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Feb 8, 2024 11:16:32 GMT -5
www.peoplefirstny.org/ The Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Utica, New York (UMHA) is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced consultants and other professionals as well as firms to assist in the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion redevelopment/revitalization of the housing authority’s Low Income Public Housing developments as well as the development of affordable housing opportunities. The UMHA seeks a qualified Consultant to assist and provide guidance with the RAD conversion process to rehabilitate, relocate or build new, and/or demolish public housing units using a variety of funding sources and financial arrangements. The Consultant will also advise the UMHA with respect to the development of new affordable and mixed income housing opportunities for area residents. Interested applicants should use the following link to download and respond to the Request for Proposal: ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=15743You may only apply to this RFP through the Housing Agency Marketplace. Please see the RFP checklist for a detailed list of items to submit. You must submit your attachments via the housing agency marketplace. We will not accept paper applications. The deadline for the proposal is 12/15/2021,11:59 p.m. EST. Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on 11/29/2021, 11:00 a.m. EST. There are two ways to participate: In-Person: Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Utica, NY, 509 Second Street, First Floor, Conference Room, Utica, New York 13501-2450.
|
|
|
|
Post by artsyone on Feb 8, 2024 19:19:25 GMT -5
Market rate apartments will they become for people within a certain salary range and employed. All the new apartments are doing that for improvements. I have checked. People First is redoing all its apartment complexes using the RAD approach. It will be a mix a low income and market rate apartments. They will still be accepting Sec 8 as well as SSI and Disability people. You are confusing me. The Olbiston has nothing to do with People First, it is a privately owned building with a Board of Directors, it is owned by Liberty Affordable Housing of Rome NY.I did some research today on Mount Carmel Apts on Catherine St and they do not participate in Section 8, however, not participating in the program is different from excluding a renter because of the pay status. The facility, for lack of a better term, has to offer the potential tenant the chance to participate in their program. This means leaving the old program to accept inclusion into the new. One such program is called the 202 Prac. Program. This replaces Section 8 for qualified renters in HUD and Subsidized Housing. I do not know the exact parameters of the program not having researched it yet, but it is possible that this is one of the rental programs the Olbiston will offer. I will update as needed. |
|
|
|
Post by clarencebunsen on Feb 9, 2024 9:56:36 GMT -5
Artysone, the frustration dealing with government speak and multiple layers or bureaucracy must be frustrating. I can't even imagine the problems of someone with limited English literacy trying to navigate it.
|
|
|
|
Post by artsyone on Feb 9, 2024 13:40:23 GMT -5
Artysone, the frustration dealing with government speak and multiple layers or bureaucracy must be frustrating. I can't even imagine the problems of someone with limited English literacy trying to navigate it. Yes, it's terrible and I can barely navigate the ocean of disinformation, misinformation, outright lies, rumors and other scuttlebutt. I, like you, can not even imagine a compromised person dealing with it. What really irritates me is when I have the correct information and someone just ignores me in favor of there own opinion. That sends me up a wall. |
|
also doing a series of posts on my FB page regarding the "faces" that are carved on the building. I have made the series public so you can find them on my FB page: Fiona O'downey/ facebook. Thanks to all again.
