WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WKBW) — The fight over the future of Blocher Homes continues in the Village of Williamsville as a public meeting filled the room Monday night.
Neighbors in Williamsville voiced their concerns to the planning board over the proposed repurposing project.
The project is expected to be a mixed-income, one and two-bedroom, apartment complex by People Inc. It would replace Blocher Homes, an assisted and senior living facility.
The main concerns raised during the public meeting included safety and traffic issues, fear of tax increases and overall quality of life.
Beechwood Continuing Care, who owns Blocher Homes, says a decrease in occupancy is the reason for repurposing the facility. The company paired with People Inc. for the proposed project.
People Inc. released this statement:
“People Inc. is committed to providing mixed-income housing options for people within our communities. The proposed project by Blocher Homes (and Beechwood) would provide a unique opportunity to increase housing options to better serve residents of the Village of Williamsville and Town of Amherst. The need for mixed-income housing was confirmed in an independent third party market study analysis.
Blocher Homes (and Beechwood) are outstanding partners and we are confident that they will handle the transition in a way that continues to provide a high quality of life for its current residents.
People Inc. has an extensive track record of developing and managing a diverse range of housing throughout Western New York."
The planning board did not comment after the meeting but says a vote on the project is likely early next year. The company says several approvals are still needed to move forward. The project could begin in Fall 2020.
