ROCHESTER, NY – On September 30, 2026, SWBR joined DePaul, the Rochester Interfaith Development Corporation (RIDC), Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency (FLACRA), Person Centered Housing Options (PCHO), project partners, and local leaders to mark the opening of True North Apartments, a new affordable and supportive housing development in Rochester’s northeast neighborhood.
Located across multiple sites at 536 Central Avenue, 141 Portland Avenue, and North Street, True North offers 70 affordable apartments paired with health and human services aimed at helping residents achieve greater stability and wellbeing. Thirty-five homes are reserved for older adults, individuals, and families who have experienced homelessness.
The development reflects a coordinated approach to housing and care, bringing permanent residences, behavioral health resources, and supportive programming into one neighborhood-based network. A wellness clinic will provide mental health counseling, substance use treatment, recovery programs, and case management for tenants as well as the surrounding community.
Designed with independence and accessibility in mind, the residential buildings include 18 fully ADA-accessible apartments and four additional units equipped for residents with hearing or visual impairments. Shared amenities include social areas, technology resources, laundry facilities, secure storage, and on-site services that encourage both personal growth and social connection.
At the Central Avenue location, dedicated multipurpose rooms create flexible space for resident activities, educational programming, and neighborhood events. Housing specialists are also available to link tenants with healthcare providers, social services, life-skills training, and other resources that can help ensure long-term stability.
“True North shows what’s possible when a building is designed around the whole person,” said SWBR Principal Joe Gibbons, AIA. “A home provides a foundation, but access to services and community make that foundation even stronger. Bringing those pieces together in one neighborhood gives residents more opportunity and security.”
Members of the SWBR project team.
SWBR served as Architect of Record, collaborating with DePaul, RIDC, FLACRA, PCHO, Christa Construction (Construction Manager) and the broader project team throughout design and construction. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, True North officially opened its doors and began welcoming its first tenants.