Snowbelt Housing outlines rehab, new‑build and homeownership plans for Lewis County

Snowbelt Housing Company presented an update to the Finance and Rules Committee describing ongoing repair work, property management activity and new development plans intended to increase affordable housing stock in Lewis County.

Robert Grunert Loud, Snowbelt executive director, said the nonprofit is managing 11 active home rehabilitation projects under a $653,000 CDBG subgrant and work on 24 homes damaged by flooding. The organization currently oversees more than 160 affordable apartments and operates homeless prevention and housing navigation services, which were serving 31 individuals and households at the time of the presentation.

Snowbelt described a five‑year strategic planning process to restore community trust, reevaluate programs and expand production. The organization is applying for New York State funding to construct up to 20 new single‑family affordable homes for households under 80% of area median income and seeking funds to rehabilitate and resell four units under HCR programs. The nonprofit also proposed a $2,000,000 moderate rehab of all 12 units at Whitten Place Apartments in Port Leyden, including new mechanical systems, roofing and siding.

Grunert Loud asked the county to consider partnership tools to support development at scale, including a revolving loan fund for predevelopment and low‑interest gap financing, infrastructure investment (broadband, water, sewer, power) and a possible land‑bank collaboration with Jefferson County to streamline reuse of vacant properties.

Committee members asked whether Snowbelt would build with contractors or rely on a Habitat‑type model; Grunert Loud said the plan is new construction on infill sites using publicly procured contractors.

Snowbelt framed the work as a mix of preservation and new construction aimed at making ownership and rental housing more available across the county.