Re-development of Holy Rosary campus celebrated

(Posted 4/26/13) – Providence Housing and Mary’s Place Outreach is celebrating the re-development of the former Holy Rosary parish campus, 414 Lexington Avenue, Rochester. Now known as Holy Rosary Apartments, the former church has been converted into a vital community center for the neighborhood and the former school and convent now house beautiful apartments to help low-income families and individuals.

The redevelopment also includes the construction of 25 new single family rental homes throughout the Edgerton Neighborhood.

The former church also serves as a community center for Mary’s Place Outreach, a grassroots agency affiliated with the Cathedral Community that serves new Americans who have settled in the neighborhood. Visitors can also tour the former school and convent that have been converted into affordable apartments.  A near-by single family rental home will also be open for a visit.

Mayor Richards: “Campus will remain a cornerstone”

“Holy Rosary Apartments is a special project because it offered a unique opportunity to serve many interests of the community at the same time:  a $15 million capital investment further supports the City’s focused investment strategy in the Dewey/Driving Park area, 60 new high-quality, lead-free, apartment units will serve neighborhood residents for decades, three historic buildings were saved and preserved, and the legacy of community and social outreach left by the former Holy Rosary parishioners will live on through the new uses of the property,” said Monica McCullough, Executive Director of Providence Housing. “Holy Rosary has served the community for nearly 125 years and my hope is that the work we have done will allow it to serve the community for a hundred more.”

“Thanks to Providence Housing and Mary’s Place Outreach, the Holy Rosary campus will remain a cornerstone of Northwest Rochester for many decades to come,” said Rochester Mayor Thomas S. Richards. “These historic structures have been converted to high quality, affordable apartments and houses that residents can be proud to call home. This project demonstrates that the success of Rochester’s transformation begins in the kitchens and living rooms of its citizens, where families gather and communities are formed.”

The $15 million development was funded by New York State Homes and Community Renewal/Housing Trust Fund, the City of Rochester, Enterprise Community Partners, Federal Home Loan Bank through First Niagara, the Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, and the Martin Luther King Fund.

The apartments at Holy Rosary are targeted to low-income working families and individuals who earn no more than 50% of the area median income, which is equivalent to $24,050 for a family of one. Rents ranges from $425 for a studio apartment to $759 for a four-bedroom single-family home.

Occupancy and income requirements apply. Applications for the waitlist are available by calling Holy Rosary Apartments at 585.254.1656.

All apartments on the main campus and all scattered site rental houses are 100% smoke-free.  Six apartments are wheelchair accessible and three of the apartments are suited for the visually or hearing impaired.

The energy-efficient apartments have fully equipped Energy Star kitchens, individually controlled heat/air conditioning, access to laundry facilities, community space, a playground and off-street parking. The single-family homes have washer/dryer hook-ups, off-street parking and a full basement.

History of Holy Rosary

The history of Holy Rosary parish extends back to 1889, when Bishop McQuaid initiated a small Catholic Mission from St. Patrick’s Church to serve the Glenwood area of Rochester. The mission served the 89 Catholic families in this area who previously traveled to the cathedral in the middle of the city to worship.  In 1890, the construction of a small chapel at the corner of Row Lexington and Finch Streets began. In years to follow, the campus expanded to serve the growing and changing needs of the neighborhood. Holy Rosary continued to serve the Catholic community in the area until March 2008, when the last Mass was held in the church. Providence Housing obtained listing on the National Register of Historic Places for the former church, convent, and rectory and all rehabilitation of those buildings meets standards for historic preservation.

About Providence Housing

Providence Housing Development Corporation is a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester. Providence Housing develops, finances and manages housing for individuals and families in the twelve counties of the Diocese of Rochester.

Providence Housing has secured $130 million in capital to develop more 800 units of affordable housing and manages 22 rental communities in Monroe, Ontario, and Chemung counties.

Providence Housing is also under construction on Son House Apartments, located at 539 Joseph Avenue. The 21-unit new construction apartment building will provide permanent homeless housing with support services provided by Catholic Family Center.  It is expected to open in October 2013.

Providence Housing and East House Corporation recently completed Paul Wolk Commons, a mixed-use community facility that combines affordable housing units with a mental health treatment apartment program located in the heart of Rochester on State Street.

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