OLEAN, N.Y. — Low-income senior citizens across the state will soon see some major improvements in and around the complexes they live in.
U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand recently announced millions of dollars in federal public assistance will now give seniors access to safe and reliable housing.
Olean House stands as the architectural centerpiece of downtown Olean.
"It's over 200 years old,” said Anne Kivari, Olean Housing Authority executive director. “And obviously at one point it was a hotel here in downtown Olean.”
Olean House is a federally subsidized residential complex for low-income senior citizens and people who are disabled, and features 60 one bedroom apartments.
"There's a lot of history," said Kivari.
To help preserve that history, the Olean Housing Authority received a federal capital fund grant of more than $816,000, part of a statewide program that also awarded millions to housing authorities in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.
Kivari says the annual grant was the highest she's ever received, and worked with her board of directors to develop a list of projects, as the authority serves residents in more than 300 units across the city.
"It's very exciting,” said Kivari. “Developing what we call a wishlist because there's things obviously we'd like to do, and things we can and can't do.”
On the can-do list is the ongoing upkeep of the building's exterior, as well as improvements to the fire escapes and upgrades to the lighting out back.
Inside, plans call for renovated and modernized senior apartments, security system upgrades, and an expanded laundry room which currently has only two washers and dryers.
"It'll make it easier for everybody around here,” said Eva Boutwell, who has lived at Olean House for three years. “We don't have to wait as long.”
She says the expansion will likely prevent her from having to do her laundry after she gets home from work at 1 a.m. in order to get a machine.
"It can be difficult,” said Boutwell. “There were two of them down here doing it when I came in. So I just waited. Sat here and waited.”
"An updated, refreshed apartment is good for your attitude, and they're deserving of something nicer,” said Kivari. “This is one of senior citizen complexes, Seneca Court.”
Kivari says with 60 units and only eight handicapped spaces, part of the grant money will help resolve the parking issue, as the small lot is a far distance from the apartments and their long hallways.
The authority is looking to work with an engineer and architect to reconfigure the parking, install additional lighting, preserve greenspace and add more spots.
"It's not convenient,” said Kivari. “It's not safe. it's not practical. I believe there's 29 spaces and we have 60 apartments. And I want to say over 70% of the individuals that live here have a vehicle.”
"It's a long walk, especially when you're senior citizens,” said Donald Swisher, who is 70 and has lived at the complex for 13 years. “We should have better parking. Because we get more and more people that have cars.”
Swisher says he's hopeful that he and his neighbors will soon have better access to parking.
He's equally grateful for the planned security upgrades and the overall investment is his health and wellbeing.
"It makes me feel good,” said Swisher. “Lot of times, you feel like they don't really care in a lot of places. But these people, they do.”
Also part of the authority is Alder Court, which features 55, one-to-four bedroom units for low-income families, as there are about 220 children within the housing authority.
Kivari says funding will be used to renovate the laundry room, buy a new Hustler for plowing and mowing, as well as build a new playground to replace the original one from the 1970s that was recently taken out.
"That was a priority when we found out we were getting that kind of money,” said Kivari. “It's critical, and exciting, and new and different. It's critical that they have somewhere to play. I hope they're as excited as I am when we finally do get it.”
Kivari says the housing authority has three years to use this round of funding.