Building Buffalo Roots sells first city house

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN).....Jocklyn Walton doesn't feel like an urban pioneer.

But, she is.

Walton is the first person to buy a home under the jointly-run "Building Buffalo Roots" program that is transforming 47 vacant lots scattered around Buffalo into single family homes for qualified homeowners. There were also five homes in Cheektowaga.

Walton paid $198,000 for her home 18 Calumet Place in Buffalo's Black Rock neighborhood.

""It changed our lives," Walton said.

First announced by then-interim Mayor Chris Scanlon, the "Building Buffalo Roots" initiative is a joint development effort from the City of Buffalo, Erie County, the Buffalo Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corp. (BENLIC) and Belmont Housing Resources.

"People are putting lasting roots and we are strengthen neighborhoods block by block," said Mayor Sean Ryan.

Ryan said 21 homes have been completed and 15 of those are either under contract or about to close on their deals.

Listings for another 24 homes has just gone live, added Deputy Mayor Thomas Baines.

The homes, designed by HHL Architects and constructed by Buffalo Building Consultants, range in price from $175,000 for two-bedroom models and $205,000 for three-bedroom models.

Homeowners have to stay in their new residences for at least 15 years.

While the homes are offered at a discounted rate, buyers must be able to financially afford their new homes.

"This is not a hand out," Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. "We are not giving these homes away."

Initial funding came from $11.1 million in allocated American Rescue Plan dollars awarded to Buffalo and $13.5 million that the plan awarded to Erie County. Empire State Development added another $1 million.

Funds from the home sales will help finance the development of other residences under the Building Buffalo Roots program.