About Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Inc.

Why We Exist

Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Inc. (HOCN) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Community Development Corporation that exists to create, facilitate and support housing and neighborhood development in the Lower West Side.

This is accomplished by creating programs to improve the quality of residential housing, and by developing sustainable projects to improve the Lower West Side. We have been around since 1998 and have been designated a Neighborhood Preservation Company for the 14201 and 14202 zip codes.

Our Values

• Accessibility to quality, affordable housing
• Working with residents and neighborhood organizations
• Stable, integrated, mixed income neighborhoods
• Healthy communities where individuals and families will have a better quality of life and take pride in their property, their street, and their community.

Our Strategic Priorities

Over the next 4 years, HOCN will strive to…

• Increase Community Engagement
• Increase Home Ownership Opportunities
• Increase Access to Affordable Rental Housing
• Increase Access to Quality and Safe Housing
• Advocate Against Substandard Housing Units
• Advocate for Neighborhood Improvements

If you would like to recieve a copy of our complete 2012-2015 Strategic Plan, please email a letter of request to j.yuhnke@hocn.org

Success Stories

Community Action

Traffic Calming Initiative: Helped plan an effort to slow traffic in the Lower West Side, endorsed by interested block and supported by local officials and community leaders

Living in Heart of the City: Production of a marketing video and distribution of over 1000 copies free of charge, made possible by public and private resources, as well as support from local leaders and organizations.

Brush Up Buffalo: Painted 13 homes in 1 day, with the help of 700 volunteers.

Tree Planting: Reforested the Lower West Side by planting 299 trees over the years with the help of countless volunteers and community partners.

Property Management

Watkins Building, 170 West Chippewa Street: Rehabilitation of this former Pan American Exposition Hotel that sat as a vacant eyesore in Buffalo for many years by utilizing funding from public and private resources. HOCN managed this property for five years before selling.

Multi-Family Home Rehab

318 Maryland: Acquired and rehabilitated this deteriorating house into three low/moderate-income rental apartments. HOCN managed this property for 4 years before selling to a first-time home buyer.

Single-Family Home Rehab

60 College St: Purchased, rehabilitated and sold a century old Victorian that had become a deteriorating eyesore at the corner of Maryland and College streets with purchase subsidies from the private and public resources.

Plymouth Avenue Block Reclamation Project: This initiative launched with the purchase of 15 Plymouth Avenue in partnership with West Side Neighborhood Housing Services.  The property has been sold and the new owner restored it to a single-family home.
42 Plymouth has been completely renovated by HOCN when a supporter purchased this house, strategically located in the middle of the targeted block. The first floor served as HOCN’s office for eight years, while the second floor was occupied by a tenant. In 2011, it was privately sold by the homeowner.
In 2007, HOCN acquired, rehabilitated, and sold two deteriorating properties on Plymouth Avenue;  23 and 44 Plymouth Avenue.

263 Hudson: HOCN used proceeds from the sale of 23 and 42 Plymouth to purchase, rehabilitate, and sell this deteriorating property on Hudson Street.

Whitney Place Properties Initiative: Acquired, rehabilitated, and sold two vacant eyesores on Whitney Place; 251 and 245 Whitney Place