Northside Village

Organization Name: Pennrose, Schenectady Municipal Housing Autho

Project Title: Northside Village

Project Location: 2450 Van Vranken Ave, Schenectady, NY 12308 (formerly Yates Village) – Goose Hill neighborhood

Project Description:
Pennrose, Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority, and Duvernay + Brooks, LLC completed the extensive public housing revitalization of Yates Village. The energy-efficient development features 300 newly constructed and rehabilitated one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom townhouse and garden-style affordable apartments available at 30% to 80% of the area median income (AMI), replacing an antiquated 75-year-old development. Phase I rehabilitated 25 existing apartments and added 64 brand new homes. 18 of the 89 were set aside for individuals with special needs and veterans, and 57 of the units are supported by SMHA Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers. All residents that were temporarily relocated during Phase I construction were given first priority to return to the revitalized community. Phase II entailed the demolition of six buildings and their replacement with 37 newly constructed buildings featuring 211 apartments. All apartments in Phase II are Section 8 Project Based Voucher (PBV) units. Residents of the 43 apartments in Phase II reserved for individuals with physical disabilities have access to on-site supportive services provided by the Schenectady Community Action Program.

Community Impact:
Northside Village is a prime example of taking outdated public housing communities and transforming them into safer, modern facilities to better serve residents while demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability by meeting energy efficiency standards and earning certification through Enterprise Green Communities. Within the new community, a Community Impact Coordinator provides regular support to residents. Monthly newsletters are distributed to foster regular communication and share valuable resources. Resident workshops empower residents with digital skills, and community events—including coffee socials, bingo, painting, health fairs, job training, and job fairs—enhance resident engagement and social connections. Staff provide hands-on assistance with paperwork for essential services like Social Services, SSI, utility support, and school transport. Through partnerships with agencies such as the Salvation Army, DSS, and Bethesda House, residents receive access to critical support programs. Home visits ensure all residents, including those with limited mobility, have equal access to food banks and necessary documents.

Organization Description:
Pennrose is a premier multifamily development company and one of the nation’s leading developers of mixed-finance projects, helping more than 100 municipalities transform underutilized sites into thriving mixed-use economic development engines. In the past 50+ years, Pennrose has developed more than 27,000 rental housing units, representing $5 billion in total development cost financed through a variety of public and private sources. Pennrose’s portfolio includes more than 350+ distinct developments in 19 states plus DC and the USVI.

Team Members:

Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority
Duvernay + Brooks, LLC
WRT
DiMarco Constructors
ABD Engineers, LLP
C2 Design Group
M.J. Engineering
Haynes Construction