BUILD CDC Property Open for Tenants
A once-vacant property on East Avenue has been given a new purpose, creating affordable housing, expanding economic opportunity, and helping advance a vision for the neighborhood shaped by residents themselves.
1032 East Avenue underwent a complete renovation over 14 months.
Led by BUILD CDC, a subsidiary nonprofit of Hamot Health Foundation, and supported by the skilled work of Construction Trades students from Erie Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT), the building at 1032 East Avenue underwent a complete renovation over 14 months. What was once a blighted structure was stripped down to its studs and now houses three newly renovated apartments, with plans underway to prepare the street-level commercial space for a future tenant.
The project reflects years of listening and planning. In 2019, HHF engaged Eastside residents to better understand their priorities for the neighborhood's future. Residents consistently identified the need to address vacant and deteriorating properties, expand quality housing options, and bring new investment to commercial corridors.
The redevelopment of 1032 East Avenue responds directly to those community-identified needs.
Representing BUILD's broader commitment to neighborhood revitalization.
More than a construction project, the building represents BUILD's broader commitment to neighborhood revitalization, returning underutilized properties to productive use and creating opportunities for residents to live, work, and invest in the community.
The transformation also created an opportunity for local students to gain valuable hands-on experience. ECAT Construction Trades students worked alongside experienced professionals, applying the skills they are learning in the classroom to a real-world project that will serve the community for years to come.
For Hamot Health Foundation supporters, projects like this illustrate the connection between community development and community health. Safe housing, economic opportunity, workforce development, and thriving neighborhoods all influence quality of life and long-term well-being. Through BUILD, HHF invests in the conditions that help communities flourish.