NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WBEN)......The impact of Community Services for Everyone1 "The Nest" project goes far beyond bricks and mortar.
Way beyond.
The $39.5 million development is one of the largest residential-anchored projects in Niagara Falls dating back to the Parkway Apartments that opened in 1973.
"We are looking to be part of a movement," said Mindy Cervani, Community Services for Everyone1 president and CEO.
The Nest, set for a long vacant lot at 333 First Street, will see a six-story, nearly 82,000-square-foot building developed with 73 apartments. Studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments will anchor the project.
Tenants will be Community Services clients - some of whom are homeless, others with special needs and victims of domestic violence,
The project includes street-level job readiness and workforce development training rooms for the clients.
"Our goal is to help our clients become more independent," Cervani said.
State Sen. Robert Ortt said the Nest will play a role in Gov. Kathy Hochul's desire to see more residential units developed across New York with options available across all demographics and income levels.
Community Services and Niagara Falls have been working on The Nest project for several years including navigating different ways to secure funding.
"Projects like this take a lot of effort on a lot of different levels," Ortt said.
Ortt and State Assemblyman Angelo Morinello helped secure state funding.
Housing has become the new buzz word," Ortt said.
Morinello said the Nest also serves another role - bringing more residents into a key stretch of downtown Niagara Falls.
"This is the start of critical mass for Niagara Falls," Morinello said. "It's like the domino effect and this is the first domino."
New residential project may help boost First Street
New residential project may help boost First Street
