The City of Geneva has been awarded $250,000 through the state’s Technical Assistance to Grow Pro-Housing Communities (TAG-PHC) program to help plan for future housing growth and development, City Manager Amie Hendrix said this week.
The grant is part of a $5 million statewide initiative announced by Kathy Hochul to help municipalities boost housing production. The funding is designed to help communities like Geneva develop pro-housing policies, evaluate development opportunities, and plan for long-term housing needs.
The Town of Owasco will also receive an equal amount of funding through the program.
Hendrix said this funding will allow Geneva to take a more strategic approach to its housing inventory and to make publicly owned sites “development ready,” particularly in areas where housing has stalled.
“We’ve been working closely with a developer on South Exchange Street to fill a long-standing gap there,” Hendrix said in an interview. “This grant lets us tie that into our comprehensive plan update and a broader housing strategy so future projects can move forward more smoothly and with community input.”
Unlike construction grants, the TAG award cannot be used to build housing. Instead, the money will support planning efforts such as zoning reviews, market studies and other technical work that can help the city overcome barriers to housing growth.
Hendrix emphasized that the process will include public engagement, giving neighborhood residents a chance to weigh in on future development proposals before formal approvals occur.
“We want to be thoughtful and transparent so that when new projects come online, people know what to expect — and there are fewer surprises,” she said.
Geneva already has several housing efforts underway, including work on the Lithio Flats project on South Exchange Street and updates tied to its comprehensive city plan.
The TAG-PHC program is open to certified pro-housing communities statewide, with cities eligible to apply for up to $250,000 to support planning and technical assistance aimed at increasing housing supply and capacity.
