Two blocks on Jefferson Avenue between Northhampton and Dodge are going to be the site of apartment building that features 79 affordable housing units, commercial and retail space. It's just one of several efforts underway to help revitalize the Masten District.

"It's gonna be affordable housing for residents of the community," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.

On Thursday, Brown gathered with Masten District Councilmember Ulysees Wingo as well as business and community leaders to talk about some of the projects underway to help revitalize to city's east side.

"Great things are happening in this neighborhood.  Between Jefferson and the Northland Corridor Project, over $170 million being spent in this neighborhood, in this area, right on the east side of Buffalo, in the city of Buffalo," said Brown.

“I don't see too much as challenges, I see a lot of opportunity," said realtor Delisa Robinson, who has lived here in the Masten District for nearly 10 years.

Robinson likes the fact that the city is trying to bring new affordable housing to the area, but she'd like to see more.

"The initiative they mentioned in the press conference I think is going to be good for the city. I think we need to look at renovating the existing affordable housing, to bring it up to par so that we can have more affordable housing for those people that are already there," she said.

In addition to beefing up the affordable housing stock, Brown says the city is also working with developers like CSS Construction and companies like Home Depot in providing career opportunities for residents.

“What we see is millions of dollars invested in every section of the city, jobs being created, jobs available to be filled, and we want to work with the community to let them know that these things are happening, they're happening right now, and they can take advantage of them right now," said Brown.