Announcements, News, & Press Releases

Grand Opening of Cardinal Mindszenty Apartments

Jan 25, 2006

For Immediate Release January 20, 2006

Southern Tier Environments for Living has invited the public to attend the Grand Opening of the Cardinal Mindszenty Apartments in Dunkirk on Friday, January 27, at 2 p.m. Dignitaries, including Chautauqua County Executive Gregory Edwards, Dunkirk Mayor Richard Frey and Thomas Van Nortwick, regional director of the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal, will participate in the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, which will be held in the Common Room just inside the Eagle Street Entrance to the building. Located at 717 Central Avenue in Dunkirk, the former Cardinal Mindszenty High School has been converted into 37 units of housing for people with disabilities.

The high school was built in 1951 and named in honor of Jozef Cardinal Mindszenty. Mindszenty, the Hungarian prelate and hero, survived 23 years of imprisonment by the Communist regime that controlled the country at the time. Southern Tier Environments for Living, Inc., purchased the  former school in 2001, after it had been vacant for 25 years, since the closing of the school in 1979. In his remarks as the remodeling project began, STEL executive director Thomas J. Whitney said, “It will be wonderful to see this great old building performing a public service again.” There are 22 one-bedroom, 14 two-bedroom and one three bedroom apartments.

The need for this type of housing is demonstrated by the fact that 92% of the apartments have already been rented. The building is accessible and has been designed to be further adapted to accommodate to the needs, for instance, of people who are hearing impaired or who use a wheelchair.

The conversion of the building was performed by GPS Construction. The installation of an elevator was made possible by $44,000 in Community Block Grant funds through the City of Dunkirk. Other funding came from Citibank, NA; the Division of Housing & Community Renewal; the Federal Home Loan Bank; HSBC, NA; and the Richman Group. Refreshments will be served at the event.

For further information, contact STEL at 366-3200.

CONTACT: Jeanne R. Sears Community Education Consultant 716-763-5079