New Corning apartment complex filling up fast
CORNING – The Academy Place apartments have been open for a business a little over a month, but the complex in Corning has already proven to be remarkably popular.
Academy Place at 11 W. Third St. is the former home of Corning Free Academy, which was a high school and most recently a middle school before the Corning-Painted Post School District closed it last summer as part of a school reorganization.
Purcell Construction Co. purchased the building from the school district, and over the past year converted the historic structure into a high-end apartment complex.
Since it opened with a ribbon-cutting in late June, the new complex is filling with tenants even faster than expected, said Purcell Construction Co. Chief Financial Officer Christina Schneider.
“We’re very pleased with how it’s filling. We’ve filled 42 of the 58 units. This is well above our projections,” Schneider said. “There are only 16 left, so we’re thrilled. We’re very happy with interest in the project. We’re doing well better than projected. We like to say a year (for full occupancy) is a comfort level you build in early on in the project and we’re way ahead of that.”
Purcell Construction worked closely with local architect Elise Johnson-Schmidt to preserve the historic flavor of the building, which was constructed in 1923, including aspects of CFA life.
Rent for the one- and two-bedroom apartments ranges from $975 to $2,075.
Every former classroom, office or student center was renovated into one-of-a-kind apartments or community centers.
Purcell officials aren’t the only ones happy with how the project turned out.
“I think it’s great we took a building with that kind of history and restored it, keeping the historical nature of the building alive,” Corning Mayor Rich Negri said. “Now it will be here for long a time. The apartments are absolutely beautiful. It’s another (building) back on the tax roll.”
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For more information
•Anyone interested in renting an apartment or learning more about Academy Place can contact on-site Manager Andrew Gregory at (607) 936-1300. Information is also available online at academyplaceapartments.com.