HORNELL (WENY) -- A new community now sits at 373 Canisteo Street--the site once known as Lincoln Elementary School.
     
The 19th century building has sat vacant for the past few years. Now, it's a part of the state's Southern Tier Soaring Revitalization Initiative.
     
On Friday, city, state and community leaders gathered alongside residents to celebrate the project.    

"It's really cool to see how many of the residents actually went to school here," says Lenny Skrill of New York's Home and Community Renewal, "for them it's really a neat experience."

Lincoln Gardens is home to 25 affordable one and two-bedroom apartments for seniors over 55. It's a market officials believe just wasn't being served enough in the area.
     
The 33-hundred square foot historic building received an energy efficient facelift, while still keeping many of its original details.  

"It's beautiful, absolutely lovely," says Nancy Campbell, a resident of Lincoln Gardens. "They're spacious. The grounds are beautiful. We are so happy here and we thank them so much for bringing this to our community."

Apartments are geared towards households at or below 60 percent of the area's median income.
     
But Lincoln isn't the only project looking to restore and reuse properties this way. New York's Home and Community Renewal agency says they expect plenty more to also be in the works. 

"We do it all the time," says Skrill. "It's a way for people to take an emotionally significant community detriment and make it a community asset. And we feel that's apart of our mission."

About half of the building's units have already been rented. If you're interested in learning more about vacancies, pricing or the amentities at Lincoln Gardens, visit http://www.homeleasing.net/ or call the leasing office directly at (607) 968-8193.