Rochester Affordable Housing Project Comes Online
Half of the units are reserved for individuals who have faced homelessness.
DePaul, along with Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency, Person Centered Housing Options and the Rochester Interfaith Development Corp., has opened True North Apartments, a 70-unit affordable housing community in Rochester, N.Y.
The project represents a $39 million investment and is part of New York’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan. The Community Preservation Corp. provided a $19.1 million construction loan.
Other financing for the project included nearly $20 million in LIHTC equity, $10.5 million in HCR subsidies, $5.5 million from the state’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program and a $750,000 HUD HOME grant through the city of Rochester.
True North Apartments comprises two residential buildings with studio, one- and two-bedroom units for households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income. Half of the units include supportive services for residents who have experienced homelessness and individuals 55 and older who need support to live independently.
Construction on the community began in December 2024. Utilities are included in the rent, and residents also have access to on-site laundry and a community room.
Also at the community is an 8,700-square-foot wellness clinic for Rochester residents in need of mental health and substance use services. Services include substance use counseling, recovery groups, medication-assisted treatment and case management. The clinic has capacity to serve up to 3,000 individuals annually.
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DePaul is a local developer with multiple properties in the area. More than a decade ago, the company delivered Carriage Factory, a 71-unit affordable housing community in the Southwest Quadrant. DePaul still owns the property, according to Yardi Matrix. The project redeveloped the former Cunningham Carriage Factory.
True North Apartments is located at 536 Central Ave. and 141 Portland Ave. The community is less than half a mile from the Rochester train station and less than a mile from downtown. Close by is the City of Rochester Public Market.
Affordable housing grows in the Rochester area
Rochester has seen a wave of affordable housing development in recent years. Since 2022, more than 4,200 rental units have been started or completed across the city, including more than 3,200 affordable units, according to the Rochester Beacon.
Approximately 12 miles outside of Rochester, in Fairport, N.Y., WinnCos. completed the preservation of Evergreen East, a 508-unit affordable property. The $86 million project converted all units to LIHTC housing in August 2026.
In May, SAA|EVI broke ground on Gateway Apartments, a 129-unit redevelopment at 150 E. Main St. The $72.3 million project is converting a vacant office building into mixed-income housing. It’s expected to welcome its first residents in 2027. SWBR is serving as the lead designer and architect of record.
