Hello to the MCS Community in New York State,

We are renovating the 200 year old farm house at 7387 Academy St. in Pompey, New York, to be three two bedroom apartments and one single bedroom apartment.  We were hoping to have all the contractor estimates in place and to have the loan from Syracuse Cooperative Credit Union.  Unfortunately this process has been slow and we have just this week changed our heating and plumbing contractor.  We are planning to use a new heating system called a Nordic Heat Pump.  Our back up plan for the summer is to use what donation money we have for materials and ask our community for physical volunteer help in order to keep the project moving.  We can use help at any skill level, and even one evening or afternoon would be useful.  And occasionally we also need to borrow tools.

This August 25, a Sunday afternoon, we have a “work day” planned from noon to about 5:00, for some interior framing, and to put vents in the two porch roofs so that we can blow in cellulose over those two areas.  The more volunteer help we have the less labor we have to pay for, and the closer we get the keeping the rent and cost of shares at the Section 8 Fair Market Rent amount.  This is the only MCS housing project currently under way in the state.  It is a good plan but slow to fund.

In general we are working on the downstairs front apartment kitchen and living space.  This week we put down maple flooring in one of the the bedrooms for this apartment, and we replaced and repaired part of the perimeter beam where an old door on an open porch had caused deterioration.  We were able to replace the beam with a chestnut barn beam from the Canandaguia area.  And we have been buying materials on Craigslist when something appropriate becomes available and the price is right.  We are hoping that we might be able to get part of the bank loan before winter so that we can do the excavation and pour a new basement floor.  The fourth, one bedroom apartment, is also in the basement. Progress has been slow, but keeps going forward.

We could also use help for the following tasks:

Someone to update and supervise this web site!

               A couple of new Board Members, we meet by phone, sometimes every two weeks and sometimes not for a couple of months depending on how fast the work is progressing.

               A book keeper.

               Someone to help with a crowd funding campaign in the fall.

If you are interested in helping in any way please call Karen at 315-696-8777.  If you are planning to come to the work day Aug. 25, please call so we have enough materials and tools to work with that day.   Bring a lunch and water to drink.

If you are on our “Needs Housing” list hosted by Pat, keep in mind that we would like to get to know you, and get to know why you think a cooperative is a good solution for you.   Being part of a cooperative means working with other people and picking up responsibility in some way.

Thank you.  We will let you know when we begin our crowd funding campaign and hope you will be part of our efforts.

The Canary Housing Cooperative has received grants from four foundations:

• Central New York Community Development,
• Schwindt Trust,
• Music for the Mission — $1,500
• and The Lerner Family Fund through Greater Horizons — $1,000