Project in Little Falls Receives $5.9 Million Grant

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on February 17, 2026, that New York State is awarding more than $240 million in tax credits and subsidies to create and preserve 1,800 affordable, modern homes across 27 housing developments statewide.

This funding, administered through New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR)’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, includes $66 million from federal and state tax credits and $176 million in subsidy loans. When combined with private investments, the projects are projected to generate about $1 billion in total economic activity.

The initiative supports a mix of housing for working families, seniors, and people with disabilities, incorporating features such as accessibility enhancements, supportive services, and sustainable elements, including on-site solar arrays and electrification upgrades.

It aligns with Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which aims to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide—over 77,000 of which have already been achieved.

Governor Kathy Hochul stated, “The housing crisis won’t solve itself. If we want New York to remain a place people can afford to call home, we have to act with urgency. That means building more housing in every region and making targeted investments to expand affordable homes for people of all ages and phases of life, including working families, seniors, and people living with disabilities.”

HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas added, “New York is committed to building more affordable housing, and this $240 million investment will provide 1,800 individuals and families the opportunity to find modern and sustainable homes they can afford in every region of the state. These projects show that our commitment to housing goes hand-in-glove with our commitment to the environment and to improving accessibility.”

In Little Falls, the announcement highlights $5.9 million in funding for the Rockton Plaza project. This represents the first phase of a two-phase redevelopment of the Little Falls Housing Authority’s public housing portfolio.

It involves the new construction of a 44-unit affordable housing development specifically for seniors, featuring on-site solar power funded through HCR’s Multifamily Solar Program.

This state funding builds on local planning efforts for Rockton Plaza. The project, in partnership with Edgemere Development and designed by INEX Architects, addresses long-standing needs at the aging facility, including outdated infrastructure, accessibility improvements, and modernization.

Mayor Deborah Kaufman stated, “This $5.9 million grant award to Rockton Plaza is a huge boost for our community. The City has been working with the developers and the Housing Authority for over a year on Phase 1 of this project, and we couldn’t be happier for them. Adding 44 apartments and renovating the existing units will be a welcome change for our senior citizens.”

Local approvals advanced in late 2024 when the City of Little Falls Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously granted variances for building coverage, height, setbacks, and parking to enable the expansion.

Chris Connolly, Executive Director of the Little Falls Housing Authority, said, “We’re very excited. I didn’t want to be the master of cliche, but yeah, it was bad news the last time, and it’s great news this time.”

Connolly said they hope to have shovels in the ground in August 2026. “This is the first of two phases. The first is the new complex next door, and phase two will be a full gut and rehab of Rockton Plaza and then the new buildings at Valley View Courts.”

The broader redevelopment (including nearby Valley View Courts) has been in planning since at least 2023, with an emphasis on sustainability, retaining existing tenants, and enhancing community options for low-income seniors and others.

The Rockton Plaza phase is expected to significantly increase senior housing availability in the area, support walkability in the downtown location, and contribute to the Mohawk Valley’s affordable housing needs.