New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas announced on April 30 the start of Settlers Crossing Second Avenue Homeownership, a $6.5 million project to expand affordable homeownership in the city of Amsterdam, Montgomery County. The initiative will create 16 single-family, factory-built modular homes on a vacant site at Second Avenue.
The project is part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s broader effort to address housing affordability across New York State. Under her leadership, more than 2,000 affordable homes have been financed in the Mohawk Valley region alone, including nearly 150 opportunities for homeownership. Settlers Crossing aligns with the Governor’s five-year Housing Plan that aims to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.
“By investing in quality starter homes, we can offer families an affordable path to homeownership that builds stability and strengthens communities,” said RuthAnne Visnauskas. “With the Governor’s commitment to create affordable homeownership opportunities, we are making New York a place where people want to live for generations to come. We thank the city of Amsterdam and each of our local partners who are making the dream of homeownership a reality for 16 families.” Homes at Settlers Crossing will be available for buyers earning up to 80 percent of Area Median Income. Better Community Neighborhood Inc. will ensure buyers meet income requirements and complete HUD-approved first-time homebuyer education.
Developed by Urban Redevelopment Group on a 2.5-acre parcel, Settlers Crossing will include eight three-bedroom ranch-style homes and eight four-bedroom cape-style homes built off-site by Bill Lakes Homes using modular construction methods intended to improve efficiency and reduce carbon impact. All units will be all-electric with ENERGY STAR appliances and built to certification standards aimed at delivering long-term energy savings.
The development is supported by $3.2 million from HCR’s Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program as well as additional funding from Community Preservation Corporation ($2.5 million) and Empire State Development ($712,000). Fred Darguste said, “This project is about more than building homes—it’s about building futures.” Wilhelmena Norman-Hernandez added that community investment was key: “Urban Redevelopment Group’s work in Amsterdam is a powerful example of what is possible when we invest in developers who are deeply connected to the communities they are building in.”
Governor Hochul’s housing agenda includes several new programs such as MOVE-IN NY and Manufactured Home Advantage Program alongside mortgage assistance initiatives through SONYMA (State of New York Mortgage Agency). As part of her “Let Them Build” agenda proposed during her 2026 State of the State address, reforms aim to speed up development processes while maintaining environmental protections.
