CORNING, N.Y. (WENY) -- After years of setbacks, plans for the Northside Blodgett Housing development are beginning to look a little bit more concrete. Roadblocks due to COVID-19 have changed the type of housing the project plans to offer.  

In 2019, Rochester-based Riedman Companies planned to build 20+ new-construction, single-family homes at the site of the former Northside Blodgett Middle School. The planned homes initially came with a price tag of roughly $300,000. Riedman is now planning to construct build-to-rent properties, part of their ongoing housing project at the Northside Blodgett site. Compoany officials say COVID-19 had a significant impact on the housing market, including the cost of materials - forcing Riedman to halt the initial plans.  

“That had a profound impact on our ability to produce," David Riedman, President & CEO of Riedman Companies, said. “The cost escalations we've seen across the board in home building and apartment development have been very significant.”  

Now, instead of selling the homes, the homes will be built and then rented. Rent will begin around $2,800 and go up to $3,500, depending on unit size. The homes will still be marketed towards single-family demographics. City leaders say the new plan will help meet the local demand for rental properties.  

“There might not be the inventory in our community to accommodate that,” Jennifer Miller, Corning’s Planning & Economic Development Director, said. “I think this will serve that demographic well.”  

“This project is happening. It's new and exciting, and it does what Riedman does best,” Bill Boland, Mayor of Corning, said. “In the many projects they have in the City of Corning; Academy Place, 176 Denison, they know how to rent, and they know how to manage.”  

Riedman hopes to get the construction process started very shortly. They plan to submit for building permits in September, with construction beginning in October.