Solstice Commons is more than just bricks and mortar. It is an investment in Oneonta’s future and in the values we all hold dear: dignity, community, and mutual care. RSS has been part of this community for more than 40 years, and we are committed to being good neighbors for the next 40 and beyond.…
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Affordable Housing
It’s not enough just to say “not in my back yard.” It is critical that we voice what we do want to see in our communities. Here at Otsego 2000, we strongly support housing projects that increase the number of year-round small- and mid-sized apartments, homes, and townhouses that would serve low- to middle-income individuals and families, young people, and retirees.…
Representatives from Vecino presented at the village’s April and May 2024 Historic Preservation Review Board meetings, for approval to demolish the existing structure at 217 Main. Following a Public Hearing, approval for the building’s demolition was received at HPARB’s May 14, 2024 meeting.…
A report issued in September 2022 by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, titled “How Communities Are Responding to Vehicular Homelessness,” points out that communities are seeing an increase in “visible vehicular homelessness” as housing prices continue to rise in many of the nation’s cities.…
The vision RSS is offering is informed, inclusive and ready to go. It’s grounded in extensive planning, a deep understanding of housing policy and years of experience as a mission-driven nonprofit developer with a proven track record not just here in Oneonta, but across New York State.…
Although more than 36 percent of the state lives in rural areas, only 20 percent of the four percent credits are awarded there. The report noted that this finding was expected, as these projects tend to be large-scale and poorly suited for small communities.…
Several panelists said one of the biggest challenges facing the Oneonta community is the lack of affordable housing. According to data from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 2025 fair market rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment in Otsego County is $957.00 per month. For many working residents, that cost is out of reach, contributing to housing instability.…
Drnek ended the meeting with a presentation of his vision to create a new neighborhood on Market Street. He asked council members and the public “to step outside the comfort zone of shared opinion and open your mind to alternate possibilities.”…
The poll of municipal leaders found that 68 percent of respondents believed that housing affordability was a major concern in their towns and villages. Affordable housing is generally defined as housing (either owner-occupied or rental) for which the occupant is paying no more than 30 percent of gross income for housing costs, including utilities.…
Need for housing of all types has been identified by the City of Oneonta in its own comprehensive plan. Need for housing of all types has been identified by the Village of Cooperstown and by the NY Forward Local Planning Committee. Why, then, are the RSS and Averill Road projects so controversial?…
