How would you like to see the community grow?

We want to hear from you!

Join us on June 1st to share your visions for the Lower West Side neighborhood! Kids activities will be available. Free lunch! Spanish translators will be on site.

Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Inc. (HOCN) is a not-for-profit Community Development Corporation that was created in 1998 to stabilize Lower West Side community through redevelopment, neighborhood stabilization, and affordable housing development. The organization was originally incorporated as Revival!..Downtown, an independent non-profit housing corporation formed in collaboration with Buffalo Place, Inc., the managing entity for the City’s downtown pedestrian mall.

Today, HOCN has coordinated over 48 units of owner-occupied home repairs, successfully acquired and renovated 16 vacant residential units and one six-unit rental property, and helped five income-qualified families purchase their first homes. HOCN’s rehabilitation efforts represent over $2 million of development invested in the Lower West Side.

Heart of the City’s success continues to grow with the launch of new programs and developments each year. Please join us in celebrating more wonderful things to come!

Complimentary cocktails and appetizers will be served in one of the Lower West Side’s hidden gems, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fontana Boathouse. This stunning boathouse is located at the end of Porter Avenue, towards LaSalle Park, by making a right onto Rotary Row and following the road as it curves around the military vehicle storage and ends at the West Side Rowing Club and Fontana Boathouse. Get directions here.

For more information on this event, please contact our Development Coordinator at (716) 882-7661 ext. 202

Applicants must meet income and other eligibility criteria to qualify for an apartment.  Please review the application carefully. ALL applications must be COMPLETELY FILLED OUT to be accepted. Applications may be downloaded here. For questions and assistance, please contact Stephanie at (716) 882-7661 ext. 200

*Please know that our deadline has extended from April 5th to better accommodate applicants.

This fair invites all current and potential West Side residents to join us for an afternoon of learning more about the affordable housing opportunities that are available.

This includes everything from tenant support to first-time homebuyer education, mortgages to foreclosure prevention, and home repair techniques to home décor.
In addition to the information provided, attendees will be able to take part in free hands-on and educational workshops that focus on housing knowledge and skills.

WHO WILL BE THERE?

Black Rock Riverside Neighborhood Housing Services
Habitat for Humanity
Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Inc.
Hispanics United of Buffalo
Homefront, Inc.
PUSH Green
West Side Ministries
West Side Neighborhood Housing Services
AmeriCorps Opportunity Corps
Citizens Bank
Erie County Health Department
Evans Bank
Healthy Neighborhoods Program
Housing Opportunities Made Equal
Key Bank
LEAD Safe Erie County
M&T Bank
Neighborhood Legal Services
Wells Fargo
West Side Bazaar Vendors Azariah’s Innocence and Anokha Leequ Enterprises

WHAT WORKSHOPS CAN I ATTEND?

11:00am
-Furniture Makeovers with Decor Adventures
-Financial Education with Kristine Conroy & The Service Collaborative of WNY’s Opportunity Corps
-Lead Safety & Healthy Homes with Erie County Health Department
12:00pm
-Tenant Rights with Neighborhood Legal Services
-Foreclosure Prevention with West Side NHS
-Storm Water Management & Rain Gardens with PUSH Green
1:00pm
-Landlord Education with Housing Opportunities Made Equal
-Homebuyer Education with West Side NHS

Live in the West Side? Interested in moving to the West Side? This is your chance to have access to the many resources available!

The Cynthia Gardens Apartments will be located at 294 & 302 Hudson Street. The energy efficient technology incorporated into the design of the buildings will reduce energy and water usage so residents can expect to benefit from lower utility costs and a healthier environment. The apartments are conveniently located close to neighborhood services and major bus routes, and will include various amenities.

A lottery drawing of applicant names will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013. All eligible applications received by 4:00 PM on Friday April 19, 2013 will be included in the lottery.

Please feel free to call us at (716) 882-7661 ext. 200 if you have any questions throughout the process.

If you would like to receive your application by mail or fax, please call (716) 882-7661 ext. 200 to be added to our interest list. Application will be sent out to those on this list on March 4th.