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Michele M. Iannello - District 10 August 20, 2007 LEASE AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR ECC SOUTH CAMPUS HOUSING Erie County Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore), Chairwoman of the Legislature's Community Enrichment Committee, announced today that the ground lease agreement between the Erie County Community College Foundation and the County of Erie regarding student housing on the south campus has been signed. Construction will begin in October of this year and the housing is expected to be ready in the fall of 2008. "This is an exciting time for Erie County. A recent market analysis of all three ECC campuses indicated a need for such housing. The housing will be constructed on approximately six acres of county owned land by the ECC Foundation," Legislator Iannello said. "The college currently serves 12,000 students and that number grows annually. Other community colleges across the state have constructed student housing and found it to be a successful source of additional revenue as well as providing expanded opportunities for internships and co-ops." "The Erie Community College Foundation's Student Housing Corporation is extremely pleased about the signing of this land lease for the construction of housing for 450 students on ECC's South Campus. The college will work diligently to create a safe and well maintained living and learning environment," Erie Community College Interim President William Reuter said. "The best part is that the project involves NO COST to the taxpayers as the facility will be constructed and maintained by the rent the students who live on campus will pay." "We are excited to be moving this project forward. More and more students are choosing to attend ECC every year and it will certainly enhance our students' college experience, creating a community like atmosphere on campus," Susan Marcione, Executive Director of the ECC Foundation Inc., the organization constructing the housing, said. "We will be working hard to have everything ready for the fall of 2008." Legislator Iannello was instrumental in negotiating the lease agreement. "It has been a long process of meetings and negotiations before consensus was reached, but we have achieved a level of partnership that can be a model for other community colleges to follow," Legislator Iannello said. "This housing is mutually beneficial for the College and the Legislature as well as our businesses in Western New York. Along with the emphasis being put on apprenticeship programs that are part of the ECC programming, I believe ECC will rate among the highest community colleges in the East." Back to District 10 Homepage